DERBY Supersub Deon Burton denied Saints a winning start to the new season as Glenn Hoddle's men let slip a two-goal lead.

The former Pompey striker was left free to slot home within two minutes of coming off the bench at the start of the second half after Saints had dominated the first 45 minutes.

They got off to a flying start with two goals by Moroccan Hassan Kachloul, both set up by the lively Kevin Davies, after 14 and 20 minutes respectively.

It was the first time Saints had ever scored at Pride Park and it looked to have set them on their way to their first win at Derby since September 1989.

But Derby, the team with the worst Premiership home record last season, got back into it in spectacular fashion with a swerving free-kick from Branco Strupar on the half hour, with the new lighter football moving considerably in the air to leave keeper Paul Jones helpless.

The Rams stepped up the tempo in the second half and Saints needed a tremendous fingertip save from Jones from a diving header by Strupar to keep them in it.

Even so, they almost won it in injury-time when Kachloul ran through only to be denied by Rams keeper Mart Poom.

For full match reports and pictures see tonight's Pink and Monday's Daily Echo

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