Paul Peschisolido netted a clinical brace to steer Derby into the FA Cup fourth round at the expense of Coca-Cola Championship rivals Burnley.

The 34-year-old Canadian was forced to plough a lone furrow in attack with Rams boss Phil Brown desperately short of attacking options.

But he duly delivered with a goal in either half to sandwich Gareth O'Connor's equaliser and ease the pressure on his manager.

Two points from their last four league games has left the Rams facing a survival battle in and in need of a remedy for their Christmas and New Year hangover.

But victory over high-flying Burnley provided a welcome tonic for Derby's long-suffering Pride Park faithful, who had seen their team dumped out of the Carling Cup by Grimsby earlier in the season.

Derby boss Brown named 42-year-old goalkeeping coach Kevin Poole in the starting line-up in place of England Under-21 star Lee Camp, who was nursing a hip injury.

It was not the news Brown needed and Burnley enhanced their status as serious play-off contenders by making a purposeful start.

Steve Cotterill's Clarets have emerged as one of the surprise packages of the season and they wasted no time stamping their authority on proceedings.

They bundled Liverpool out of the competition at the third round stage last season and were clearly eager to embark on another run.

In-form striker Ade Akinbiyi teased and tormented Derby defender Lewin Nyatanga on the left flank and produced a quality cross which Poole was forced to pluck out of the air.

Seconds later, Poole rolled back the years with a superb double save to deny Chris McCann and Akinbiyi in quick succession.

Burnley were dominant, but Derby immediately tore upfield and opened the scoring after 17 minutes through Peschisolido.

The 34-year-old Canadian found the space on the left flank and hit a cross-shot which deflected off Burnley winger Wade Elliott and into the net for only his fourth goal of the season.

Akinbiyi earned himself a booking after hurling a tirade of abuse at the linesman, but the Clarets came back strongly and wiped out Derby's lead within 11 minutes O'Connor collected possession and fired home from 25 yards right-footed under Poole and into the bottom corner for his eighth goal of the campaign.

Poole should have done better but he was left to breath a huge sigh of relief shortly before the hour mark when Akinbiyi wasted a great opportunity to put Burnley ahead.

Elliott raced to the byline on the right flank and delivered a perfect cross across the face of goal, but Akinbiyi could only skew an errant show horribly wide.

And Derby took advantage as Peschisolido restored their lead after 67 minutes.

The livewire striker collected Inigo Idiakez's pass 15 yards from goal and chipped home into the far corner for his fifth goal of the season to put the Rams into the hat for the fourth round draw.

Teams:

Derby Poole, Edworthy, Nyatanga, Michael Johnson, Kenna, Smith, Thirlwell, Seth Johnson, Holmes, Peschisolido (Bolder 90), Idiakez.

Subs Not Used: Camp, Bisgaard, Doyle, Barnes.

Booked: Michael Johnson, Idiakez.

Goals: Peschisolido 18, 67.

Burnley Jensen, Sinclair, McGreal, Duff (Thomas 87), Harley, Elliott (Branch 87), Hyde, James O'Connor, Garreth O'Connor, Akinbiyi, McCann.

Subs Not Used: Karbassiyoon, Spicer, Courtney.

Booked: Akinbiyi, Sinclair.

Goals: Garreth O'Connor 29.

Att: 12,713

Ref: M Jones (Cheshire).