After another beating for Derby from Ipswich at the weekend, it was obviously too much for then manager Paul Jewell as he has thrown in the towel and resigned from his post.

Jewell witnessed his side’s defeat after heading the team in the Premiership and Championship for 50 games. With only seven wins from that total, you can understand why Jewell was not feeling to comfortable with his performance as a manager but it just goes to show what little confidence he had in Derby’s ability.

Surely the fact he’s taken the side to a semi-final clash with Manchester United in the FA Cup this season is reason enough to stand by the team.

But obviously, it isn’t. The man has shown his true colours and now leaves Derby in the hands of caretaker boss Chris Hutchings.

There is speculation of four potential replacements for Mr Jewell including Hutchings:

• Burton Albion boss and son of Brian, Nigel Clough
• Peterborough manager Darren Ferguson
• Wrexham boss Dean Saunders

Currently, the favourite is Nigel Clough who is sure to be keen to follow his father’s legacy at Derby. He has proved his ability as a calm, influential manager at Burton who are currently 13 points clear at the top of Blue Square Premier league and fits the Board’s requirements according to reports.

An announcement is likely to be made by the end of the week so fingers crossed the FA Cup clash against Man Utd has positive results before the return leg.

Tags

• 2008/9
• burton albion
• chris hutchings
• darren ferguson
• dean saunders
• nigel clough
• paul jewell
• peterborough
• resignation
• wrexham

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Derby County 0 Ipswich Town 1

Derby’s performance in December has been quite ropey having only beaten Watford 1-0 at home but losing most our away games so a game on home turf was in much need, hopefully giving the Rams some much needed Pride Park support against Ipswich.

Unfortunately, the game didn’t start too well.

Within 9 minutes, Nathan Ellington went off with an injury to his leg forcing Paul Jewell to replace him with Luke Varney.

Things went from bad to worse just seven minutes later when Ipswich’s Jonathan Walters managed to head in a goal for the Tractor Boys giving Ipswich the only goal of the game.

There were many long range attempts from Derby with Miles Addison, Jordan Stewart and Kris Commons all taking shots at Richard Wright but none were good enough to meet the back of the net.

This was Paul Jewell’s 50th league game as manager at Derby and probably not what he was hoping for at such a milestone. Speculation of Jewell leaving the club will really hit Derby hard with such big games coming up in the Carling Cup and FA Cup and while we’re sitting so low in the Championship table. Any manager who gives up at this stage is just not up to the job.

Here’s hoping it’s just rumours…

Tags

• 2008/9
• Championship
• home
• ipswich town
• jonathan walters
• jordan stewart
• kris commons
• loss
• luke varney
• miles addison
• nathan ellington
• paul jewell

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Stoke City 0 Derby County 1

While Derby’s league campaign has had mixed results, the League Cup was a completely different affair. Derby haven’t reached the quarter finals of the league cup in 20 odd years so they had already exceeded expectations. It was now time to step it up a gear against Premiership side, Stoke City - and on away turf as well.

The first half had little to talk about. The only highlight was a disallowed goal from Richard Creswell due to a handball.

Both teams stepped it up a gear after the break though.

Kris Commons and Miles Addison both rattled the woodwork while Stoke’s Ricardo Fuller was denied the other end of the pitch thanks to an amazing save from Roy Carroll.

It was in the fourth minute of injury time when Andy Griffin handballed Przemyslaw Kazmierczak’s cross, forcing referee Rob Styles to reward Derby a penalty. Nathan Ellington accepted duty and smoothly rolled the ball past Stoke’s Steve Simonsen, progressing Derby through to the semi-finals.

Derby haven’t beaten a Premiership team in 25 games since Paul Jewell took the management post, so you can imagine the adilation he was feeling.

Derby are now in the semi-finals of the Carling Cup, the furthest they have ever been in the League Cup in 40 years.

Tags

• andy griffin
• away
• carling cup
• kris commons
• league cup
• miles addison
• nathan ellington
• paul jewell
• przemyslaw kazmierczak
• quarter-final
• ricardo fuller
• rob styles
• roy carroll
• steve simonsen
• stoke city
• win

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It seems quite appropriate that after a year of neglect on this website, Derby have seen some of their most “memorable” football in decades.

With gaining promotion to the Premiership after quite an exciting knockout stage in the Championship last May, we came to expect to see some magic from Billy Davies and his team in the season to follow. But it wasn’t long before the Championship “quality” was proven with thrashing after thrashing from true Premiership teams. The Premiership hadn’t seen such extreme scores, and all in such close proximity of each other.

It wasn’t long before the Board made it clear they needed a change and sent Davies packing (after a mutual agreement apparently). It was then turn of ex-Wigan manager Paul Jewell to take the reigns and attempt to make good of the team that had shown such high spirits six months before.

His dreams were short-lived.

It’s hard to be positive about a season of football that has shown such lack of inspiration. It’s hard to believe why the supporters have stuck behind their beloved Rams for the entire season, singing loud and proud through so many difficult games.

It was only towards the end when it looked like Derby found a life line. With guaranteed relegation approaching fast, Derby County put in some hard graft and very nearly achieved something to sing about. But that was short-lived and it wasn’t long before the nail was in the coffin in record breaking time (at least we’ve got something to take away with us).

With four games of the Premiership left, this is an ideal opportunity for Derby to show what they’re made of, possibly taking a win. With West Ham this weekend, there is an opportunity to shine and let Jewell get something out of his time with Derby. It would be great for him to travel back to Derby on Saturday night with at least a point under his belt.

It looks like Derby are also on track for getting the least points ever in the Premiership, as well as the worst goal difference since the Premiership started.

But we should at least be able to hold our heads high, keep singing loud in to Pride Park and fight for promotion next season with 19,000 dedicated season ticket holders to impress.

Tags

• 2007
• 2008
• billy davies
• highlights
• paul jewell
• premiership
• relegation
• season

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