Evening all. Is there a better way to spend a Monday evening than watching two sides desperate to get promotion to the Premier League battling it out? No, didn't think so! Here, Burnley take on the role of hosts as Derby County come to town.

The teams news from Turf Moor has already been released, so let's take a look at that, starting with the hosts...

BURNLEY XI: Heaton; Lowton, Keane, Mee, Ward; Boyd, Jones, Barton, Arfield; Vokes, Gray

BURNLEY SUBS: Nizic, Duff, Kightly, Taylor, Darikwa, Marney, Hennings

No drama for Burnley boss Sean Dyche, who has named an unchanged starting lineup. Joey Barton is included as he looks to score in three consecutive Football League matches for the first time in his career. He has joined George Boyd, David Jones and Scott Airfield in midfield, while Andre Gray and Sam Vokes continue their partnership in attack.

And now for the visitors...

DERBY XI: Carson; Christie, Keogh, Shackell, Warnock; Thorne, Butterfield, Johnson; Ince, Blackman, Martin

DERBY SUBS: Grant, Bryson, Hendrick, Russell, Baird, Camara, Shotton

Unlike his opposite number, Derby head coach Paul Clement has made some alterations - three to be precise. One of those has come in goal with Scott Carson taking the gloves from Lee Grant. Also involved are Jacob Butterfield and Chris Martin at the expense of Jeff Hendrick and Johnny Russell respectively.

Staying with Clement, here is a snippet of what he has just had to say to Sky Sports News:

"As I said in the press last week, I believe a game like this is what we need. It's a chance for us to return to form."

© Getty Images

That form Clement speaks of has indeed been poor recently. His side have collected just two points from their last four Championship outings. Once league leaders, the Rams have now slipped down to fourth position and six points adrift of automatic promotion.

In contrast, during the same time period hosting Burnley have picked up 10 points - only table-toppers Hull City have earned more. They've also been scoring plenty of goals, with 12 being rattled into the opposition's net.

And here is some of Dyche's pre-match thoughts, again talking to Sky Sports News:

"We've been performing well. We've scored plenty of goals and aren't conceding too many. But, we know you have to earn the right - there is no guarantee. We will work hard again tonight."

AS IT STANDS: Despite the contrasting fortunes of late, Derby in fourth actually go into this contest one place higher than their hosts in the table. Just a point splits them, though, so a Burnley win sends them above the away side. In fact, a victory for either would move them above Brighton & Hove Albion and into third.

Recent history would certainly point to Derby not winning this fixture. After all, they have not taken three points away from Turf Moor on their last seven visits (D3 L4). They've also failed to score in the previous three in a row.

PREDICTION: The players are now heading out on to the pitch, so let's have a real quick stab at guessing the outcome. Both teams need the three points, which often means a draw is inevitable. I can see that being the case tonight, with both sides scoring in a 1-1 draw.

KICKOFF! We're a little late getting underway due to a 60-second silence being observed for the members of Burnley staff that have died over the last 12 months, but the referee has now blown his whistle to signal the start of play. It's the hosts that get us underway.

SAVE! Positive start by Derby as Burnley fail to deal with a high ball that is hoisted into their box. It drops kindly for Martin, who lashes a half-volley goalwards. It appears to be creeping into the bottom corner, but Heaton gets down well to turn away the danger.

Aside from that Martin opportunity, it's been a rather tentative start to proceedings. Derby are having more of the ball it must be said, while Burnley are still trying to feel their way into the game.

One thing is for sure, it's going to be a physical battle for Burnley striker Gray. Already on three occasions he's tussled with Derby centre-back Keogh. He believes that he was fouled during the most recent duel, but the referee waves play on.

SAVE! It's poor defending from Burnley, who allow Derby winger Ince to cut inside from the right flank and onto his stronger left foot. He takes aim from 25 yards out and stings the palms of Heaton.

Ex-Derby midfielder Craig Ramage, who is working for BBC Sport this evening, has summed the start of this match up perfectly:

"Derby have got three against two in midfield - they have got to control this football match."

A good move from Derby as Ince turns in the centre circle and threads a pass out wide to Blackman. His low cross is intended for an onrushing Johnson, but Mee reads the danger well and clears. Derby are playing all of the football right now.

CHANCE! Still Derby continue to probe as they seek the breakthrough. They've just forced three corners in quick succession and the last one sees Shackell leap highest, only to see his headed effort land on the roof of the net.

Burnley may not be having to fend off wave after wave of attack, but Derby really are in complete control of the game. They are passing the ball with real purpose, particularly in the midfield area where they are hoping to draw the likes of Barton out and create some space in behind.

Dyche has seen enough it would seem. The Burnley boss is currently stood on the touchline barking out the orders and making a number of different hand gestures. Hopefully the players understand them better than me!

Football doesn't make sense sometimes! Derby have bossed this encounter, yet out of nowhere they trail. A cross from the right by Lowton is intended for Gray, but Keogh beats him to the ball, only to send skimming off his head and inside the far post. Disaster for the Rams.

Well, that's certainly one way to respond to falling behind! Derby were behind for less than a minute thanks to a stunning goal from Butterfield. Martin flicks the ball into the midfielder's path and from a full 25 yards out, he lashes a volley into the top corner. Heaton was at full stretch, but he got nowhere near the ball. That must be a Goal of the Season contender.

CHANCES! All of a sudden, this game has burst into life. At one end a stretching Gray lifts his effort over for Burnley, while Derby's Blackman then sees his powerful strike deflected over. From the resultant corner, the January signing from Reading then turns the ball over the top from close range. He went with his left foot, but had he used his right, it may have gone in.

Incidentally, those two efforts from Blackman in quick succession took his shot tally for the season to 74 - more than any other Championship player. He's not frightened to pull the trigger, that's for sure.

SAVE! Good football in a very tight area from Burnley eventually sees Vokes turn on the edge of the Derby box to create himself enough room for a shot. There's plenty of power in his strike, but it's straight at Carson, who holds.

STAT! Not pleasant reading for Mr Keogh...

4 - No Championship player has scored more own goals since August 2011 than Richard Keogh. Clumsy. — OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 25, 2016

There will be one minute of added time at the end of this first half.

There goes the whistle for the break following a first half which took a while to get going, then all of a sudden we saw two goals in the space of 26 on-field seconds.

It's not exactly been a vintage half for those of a Burnley persuasion. In fact, it would be fair to say that they would not have scored if Derby hadn't done it for them! They've struggled to get a foothold in the game, with key players like Boyd and Gray having very little impact. On the plus side, they're level - surely they can't be as ineffective after the restart?!

As for Derby, for a side that is winless in four, they are playing okay. They've dominated the possession, although manager Clement is bound to be disappointed that Burnley goalkeeper Heaton hasn't been worked more. Even so, they have been the better team and if they can produce a similar type of display in the second half, they'll have a decent chance of claiming the three points.

STAT!

Jacob Butterfield has scored in 3 of his last 4 appearances against Burnley for Middlesbrough, Barnsley & now Derby

— Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) January 25, 2016

RESTART! Derby get us back underway at Turf Moor. Can one of these sides claim an important victory? The next 45 minutes will tell us.

No shots of any note to talk of, but it's the same old story as far as domination is concerned. Derby have started brightly and are passing the ball around with ease.

If Blackman gets his head up, Ince would have been clean through on goal moments ago. The Derby attacker is sent away on the counter-attack by Shackell's header. As he reaches the halfway line, Ince is in acres of space, but much to his annoyance, Blackman doesn't see him.

A bad evening for Keogh has just got a little worse. Gray weaves his way beyond two Derby challenges inside the area, only to then be upended by the Republic of Ireland international. Referee Michael Oliver has no hesitation in pointing to the spot and up steps Gray to send Carson the wrong way from 12 yards. They've been poor so far, yet Burnley lead again.

Moments ago Keogh gave away a penalty, now it's the turn of his defensive partner Shackell to follow suit. He uses both hands to stop Gray from receiving Lowton's lofted pass - it's a clear penalty and he's rightly booked. This time it's Vokes that takes on the responsibility from the spot and he makes no mistake, sending his effort straight down the middle. Somehow, Burnley now have a two-goal lead!

STAT!

Burnley have now scored 28 home Championship goals this season. They only scored 14 home PL goals last season pic.twitter.com/oyaDD27AUr — Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) January 25, 2016

SAVE! Derby midfielder Johnson, who has been quiet tonight, tries his luck from distance. However, there is so little power in his low effort that Heaton has enough time to fall on top of the ball, wasting a few seconds in the process.

Derby's centre-backs must have walked under a ladder or crossed paths with a black cat recently because their luck is well and truly out. Arfield's shot from 20 yards out is rolling straight to Carson, but it takes a wicked deflection off Shackell and then loops up over the helpless Derby keeper and into the net. The Burnley fans are amused, given that Shackell left them to join Derby.

DERBY SUB: Johnson's race has been run as the former Norwich man is replaced by Camara.

CHANCE! A decent opening for Derby is created by Butterfield, who releases Ince inside the Derby box. The angle is always against the winger, though, and he ends up dragging his shot across the face of goal and wide.

SUBSTITUTIONS: Burnley frontman Gray limps off with cramp and is replaced by Hennings, while Russell comes on for Derby at the expense of Russell.

As is often the case when one side is so far in front, it's all gone a little flat at Turf Moor. Derby, for all their domination, are now wishing time away until the final whistle.

DERBY SUB: Another change for Derby as Blackman is replaced by the fit again Bryson.

BURNLEY SUB: Now it's Vokes's turn to trudge off the field, with Marney replacing the striker.

There will be three minutes of stoppage time for Derby to endure. It still doesn't feel right that they find themselves so far behind!

Well, they may have been second best for much of that game, but Burnley have beaten fellow promotion hopefuls Derby by a comfortable margin at Turf Moor. As a result they move up to third, while the travelling Rams drop down to fifth.

That is all we have time for from Lancashire. Thanks for joining Sports Mole this evening and until next time, goodbye.