For long periods, this looked like a winning start for West Ham.
Instead, the contest swung in the closing stages. What had been a composed away performance became a test of nerve, and Burnley sensed an opening.
The key figure was Zian Flemming, whose late double hauled Burnley level.
It was the kind of finish that can shift the tone around a team early in a season. A point from 2-0 down feels significant for Burnley; for West Ham, it is the sort of draw that can feel like a defeat.
There is a broader edge to this fixture too. Reports described it as a meeting between two freshly relegated clubs, and the match carried that weight: expectation, pressure and the sense that both sides are adjusting quickly to a demanding league.
For Burnley, the comeback offers belief. For West Ham, the next question is simple - how quickly can they respond after letting control slip? That will be the next storyline to watch when both clubs head into their upcoming Championship fixtures.