Burnley vs Derby County: Relegation Fight Intensifies

Burnley and Derby County meet at Turf Moor on 19 September 2026 at 15:00 in a game that already feels heavy for both clubs. Bottom versus third-bottom in the Championship. Two former Premier League names staring hard at the trapdoor.

The margins are thin. The stakes are not.

Two Clubs in Trouble

Burnley come into this one without a win in five league matches. The numbers tell the story: two draws, three defeats, five goals scored, nine conceded.

Their last outing, a 3-1 defeat to Swansea City, underlined the slide. Earlier in the run, a 4-1 beating by Norwich City added to the sense of a side losing its grip. Only draws against Wrexham and Middlesbrough have broken up a grim sequence.

That form has dumped the Clarets at the bottom of the table, 24th, and left Nicky Hayen searching for answers as much as points.

Derby are not in free fall, but they are not far off. One win in their last five Championship games, four defeats, and the mood around Pride Park has darkened quickly.

A 1-2 loss to Birmingham City last time out followed a 3-0 defeat to West Ham United. Across those five fixtures, the Rams have scored just three times and shipped seven. Their only bright spot? A hard-earned away win at Portsmouth.

It’s why John Eustace’s side arrive in Lancashire sitting 22nd, only slightly better off than their hosts but stuck in the same fight.

Selection Shadows and a Worrying Injury

Team news only adds to the tension.

Burnley have yet to confirm their squad, and no injuries or suspensions have been officially listed so far. Hayen’s choices will become clearer closer to kick-off, but for now, the Clarets keep their cards close.

Derby’s situation is more complicated. They also haven’t named a full squad, but all eyes are on Henrik Meister. The Danish forward, on loan from Pisa, was stretchered off after collapsing on the pitch during the defeat to Birmingham City.

His condition and availability remain uncertain, and the club is waiting on further updates. For a team already short on goals, the potential loss of a key attacking option is a serious blow.

Recent History: Burnley Hold the Edge

These sides know each other well, and the recent head-to-head record leans Burnley’s way.

Their last meeting came in the Carabao Cup in August 2025, when Burnley edged a 2-1 win at Turf Moor. Before that, the league fixtures were tight and tense: a 0-0 draw at Pride Park in April 2025, and another goalless stalemate at Turf Moor in December 2024.

Across the last five recorded meetings, Burnley have one win, Derby have none, and three games have finished level. Small margins, low-scoring affairs, and very little between them.

The Table Doesn’t Lie

Strip away the history and the names on the shirts. Look at the table.

Burnley: 24th.

Derby County: 22nd.

Both clubs are in the lower reaches of the Championship, both struggling for rhythm, both needing a result that does more than just add three points. They need a performance that changes the mood.

One side could use this as a turning point. The other risks sinking deeper into a season that’s already starting to feel like a battle for survival.