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Fuseini brings Rams hope of a revival
Fuseini brings Rams hope of a revival
Sometimes in football there are moments where drawing feels like winning.
Derby have had a disappointing start to the season so far, winning only one game out of a possible eight, drawing twice, and losing five.
The Rams' position in the league table going into the first international break of the season isn't ideal, despite it probably being a fair reflection of how they have performed in both boxes so far this campaign, with a minus seven goal difference only backing that up.
Every club wants to take momentum into an extended break, but when you're in and around the bottom three, getting a result for the morale and confidence of the team feels extra important.
Derby have shown resilience at times this season, but Saturday felt different.
Despite having more shots, shots on target, and creating greater clear-cut chances than fellow strugglers Burnley, the Rams found themselves staring down the barrel of a fourth-straight defeat and going into the international break rock bottom of the Championship.
For the longest time Derby have been crying out for pace on the wings.
Patrick Agyemang offered Derby something raw and slightly different last season, but was always more about power and physicality than just pace.
Since signing on loan from Union Saint-Gilloise on deadline day, Fuseini has been one of Derby's brightest sparks.
Whilst his end product hasn't been consistently brilliant so far, his fearless attacking approach, confidence to beat his man, desire to get shots on goal, and willingness to utilise his pace to stretch defences and make runs in behind are attributes that have been there for all to see.
It goes without saying when you're in a bit of a rot, you need someone in your team who has the ability to produce a moment of magic and get supporters on their feet.
Saturday felt like the perfect example of how important his presence, particularly off the bench, is going to be throughout the season.
Bringing a player on who is that explosive will be an absolute nightmare for opposition full-backs, especially when they're tiring towards the end of matches.
You can only imagine the more he gets used to the new environment, new team-mates, and John Eustace's playing style, the more confident and valuable he will become.
When the Rams get players back to full fitness throughout the campaign, they have the ability to utilise both Fuseini, and Agyemang, on either flank.
With Carlton Morris as the number nine, and those two either side of him, you can see Derby becoming quite the force to be reckoned with in an attacking sense later on in the season.
Here and now though, Fuseini's sensational strike to secure Derby a last-gasp point has turned despair into hope.
Providing the team and its supporters with positives to hold on to throughout the interval, alongside a feeling that the Rams can kickstart a revival when the next block of fixtures begin on 10 October.
You can often catch Amelia Warren as a guest on BBC Radio Derby.
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