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The game started off with both sides trying to get the ball on the deck and play but seemed unable to as the ball ping ponged around the pitch. The first real opening of the game fell to Burnley when Chris Eagles managed to break away but was unable to provide a good cross.
Derby tried to make an opening for themselves but were excellently thwarted by a resolute Burnley defence. At the other end Burnley kept the pressure on the Derby backline, a Robbie Blake corner was cleared straight back to him, Blake then had the time and space to take the ball in to the box and unleash a thumping drive that was well blocked, only for it to bounce to Martin Paterson but the Northern Irish International could only put the ball wide.
It wasn't long though until Burnley took the lead, Martin Paterson yet again causing Derby problems, after running at the defence was able to win a corner. From that corner Blake's cross was only cleared as far as Steven Caldwell his header then teed up Kevin McDonald on the edge on the box who hit home a lovely drive into the top right hand corner with the outside of his boot to make it Burnley 1-0 Derby !!!
Burnley were on top knocking the ball around really well, the only scare was from a Kris Commons break but his sloppy pass was easily sorted by Michael Duff. More Burnley chances followed with Martin Paterson once again a thorn in Derby's defence his cross was volleyed over by Chris Eagles in the most extreme attempts of volleys you will see. Robbie Blake was then unlucky not to release Eagles with a through ball after a good break away.
And Burnley's dominance finally came good when a lovely flowing move found Eagles on the right wing; his low cross was slotted in to the roof of the net by Martin Paterson. Derby just couldn't cope with the Clarets record signing.
And not too long later it was 3-0 after a carbon copy of the second goal with Eagles hitting in another low cross from the right hand side and there yet again was Martin Paterson to score his eleventh goal in all competitions and make it four goals in two games.
Fog entered the stadium in mass amounts giving fans a head ache with wondering if the game would carry on or not!
It did not stop Burnley as waves of attacks followed with a Robbie Blake free kick nearly catching Roy Carroll out at his front post; Chris McCann then had a cross well blocked for a corner as the clarets turned the screw. Derby however should have pulled one back with Kris Commons dancing his way through the Burnley defence to set a team mate up only for his team mate to find the back of the Jimmy Mac lower tier.
Paterson came inches away from his hat-trick as half time approached with a delicate Chris Eagles cross just nicked away from 'Pato's' head at the dying moment.
The second half started with a change of football due to the fog, an orange ball to be precise also with Derby taking Kris Commons off for Nathan Ellington. It was Ellington who had the first real chance of the second half but his weak effort was easy for Brian Jensen.
Chris Eagles then should have added a fourth after Kevin McDonald's through ball but Eagles could only find the side netting.
Derby's only real notable effort was when a shot from the edge of the box that clipped the outside of the post but that was really it from a team that seemed devoid of ideas with Rob Hulse up front more interested in grabbing and elbowing our defenders, Michael Duff, one of those defenders, had to be bandaged up after a knock to the head.
Robbie Blake had a good free kick well saved by Roy Carroll and Michael Duff almost caught everyone out with a cross that nearly crept in. Martin Paterson was replaced by Joey Gudjonsson late on to a fantastic reception and as the full time whilst went Burnley had claimed 3 vital points in the play off hunt.
Burnley seem to be going places this season and lets just hope we can keep it up, we play Arsenal in the League Cup on Tuesday night hoping for some more cup glory as at the moment at least supporting Burnley really is a pleasure!