Derby v Fulham preview

Championship beckons for rock-bottom Rams

Last updated: 29th March 2008

Jewell Paul Derby manager

Jewell: That sinking feeling

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Fulham could hammer the final nail into Derby's coffin at Pride Park on Saturday by condemning their hosts to Premier League relegation.

Paul Jewell's Rams have been preparing themselves for an immediate return to the Championship for some time and the Derby faithful could be paying their last respects to feint hopes of an extended lease of life in the top-flight if they fail to beat fellow strugglers Fulham and Birmingham beat Manchester City at St Andrews.

Even the most optimistic of newly-promoted Derby supporters were bracing themselves for a challenging campaign as proceedings kicked off last August but, with only one league win to show for their efforts, few will have anticipated such a reality check.

Fulham may enjoy a 13-point margin over their rock-bottom opponents, but Roy Hodgson's side have also endured a less than memorable campaign and are clinging to their own top-flight life-support system as they sit in 19th position - one place above Derby - and four points from safety.

Stubbs absence

The Cottagers are also keen to bring to an end their own unwanted statistic as they look to conclude a run of 18 months without an away win and they are unlikely to be in a sympathetic mood for their trip to the East Midlands.

Derby will again be without Alan Stubbs as the veteran defender continues to struggle with a calf injury that has seen him miss the last two games.

However, goalkeeper Roy Carroll and midfielder Mile Sterjovski have recovered from groin problems sustained at Middlesbrough last weekend.

Defender Tyrone Mears has set his sights on a return from the career-threatening shin injury he sustained in January before the end of term, but the visit of Fulham is expected to come too soon.

Healy doubt

It was already expected that Giles Barnes would miss the remainder of the campaign, but Jewell recently admitted that the highly-rated midfielder may require a second operation on his knee injury as the Rams' woes increase.

Fulham have doubts over David Healy after the striker suffered an ankle injury on international duty with Northern Ireland.

Hodgson is hoping Healy will recover in time to travel, but the rest of his internationals appear to have come through their games unscathed.

Goalkeeper Kasey Keller is set to continue in goal ahead of Ricardo Baptista as Fulham look for a welcomed win on their travels.