Derby substitute Paul Peschisolido came off the bench to rescue a point for his side but the Rams' hopes of automatic promotion faded further as dogged Burnley held on for a deserved point.

Clarets winger Jean-Louis Valois struck a splendid free-kick after 34 minutes to hand the visitors an interval lead before Peschisolido struck with 20 minutes remaining.

After four Championship victories in a row, this draw destroyed Derby's hopes of recording five consecutive league wins for the first time since 1995-96.

Derby manager George Burley made one enforced change from the side which won 3-1 at Rotherham on Saturday, with German winger Marco Reich replacing hip injury victim Tommy Smith.

Burnley were dealt a massive blow prior to kick-off by the loss through injury of defenders Frank Sinclair and John McGreal, who have this season helped the Clarets to establish one of the best defensive records in the division.

John Oster and Lee Roche were drafted into the starting XI by Steve Cotterill for the only two changes from the side which drew with Blackburn in the FA Cup.

Derby began brightly and took just three minutes to find the net.

Inigo Idiakez's left-wing corner was cleared by the Burnley defence and when Morten Bisgaard knocked the ball back into the Clarets' danger zone, Marcus Tudgay was on hand to rifle the ball home only for the strike to be disallowed for a marginal offside call.

Idiakez then forced Brian Jensen into action with a delightful 30-yard free-kick which was destined for the top corner before the Burnley goalkeeper's timely intervention.

Derby's 13-goal Poland international striker Grzegorz Rasiak then saw his header blocked on the line, but Burnley slowly gained a foothold on the game.

Lone striker Ian Moore threatened to gallop through the Derby defence before Tom Huddlestone demonstrated why he will be playing in the Premiership with Tottenham next season by sticking out a leg to collect the ball before strolling calmly out of defence in possession.

But Burnley began to grow in confidence and Micah Hyde's goalbound header from Oster's corner forced Adam Bolder into a block on the line.

Shortly after the half-hour mark, the visitors drew first blood, with the impish Moore proving a crucial presence.

Huddlestone clumsily fouled the livewire striker 25 yards from goal to earn himself a booking and allow Valois to step up and curl the subsequent free-kick into the top right-hand corner.

With Derby still struggling to penetrate the visitors after the restart, Burley replaced Pablo Mills and Reich with Mo Konjic and Peschisolido.

Shortly after the hour mark, Idiakez embarked on a strong run which saw him head goalwards before firing a fierce 25-yard effort against the post, with Peschisolido inches away from connecting with the rebound as Burnley began to ride their luck.

But with 20 minutes remaining, however, their luck was finally out as Peschisolido grabbed a precious equaliser for his side when he fired home the rebound after Jensen parried Bolder's initial effort.

Derby continued to up the pressure thereafter, but Rasiak, with his side's best chance, could not hand the Rams a priceless winner.

Teams:

Derby Camp, Kenna, Mills (Konjic 58), Huddlestone, Makin, Bisgaard, Idiakez, Bolder, Reich (Peschisolido 58), Tudgay, Rasiak.

Subs Not Used: Grant, Junior, Doyle.

Booked: Huddlestone, Konjic.

Goals: Peschisolido 70.

Burnley Jensen, Roche, Cahill, Duff, Camara, Oster, Grant, Hyde, Whittingham, Valois, Moore (Branch 84).

Subs Not Used: Coyne, Pilkington, Scott, Yates.

Booked: Grant, Valois.

Goals: Valois 34.

Att: 23,701

Ref: P Dowd (Staffordshire).