Jewell hurt by 'horrible' drop

Derby boss upbeat despite suffering the drop

By Peter Fraser   Last updated: 29th March 2008

Footballl Premier League Derby Fulham Paul Jewell

Jewell: Relegation

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Derby manager Paul Jewell confesses it feels 'horrible' now the reality of Premier League relegation has sunk in at Pride Park.

A 2-2 home draw with Fulham combined with Birmingham's victory over Manchester City at St Andrews condemned Derby to the inevitable drop to the Championship.

The Rams had taken the lead in a thrilling encounter through Emanuel Villa, but Fulham then fought back through Diomansy Kamara and a Hameur Bouazza effort, which deflected in off Dean Leacock.

Villa, though, set up a grandstand finish as he headed in an equaliser with 10 minutes remaining but Derby could not find the winner they required to maintain their top-flight status - much to the disappointment of Jewell.

Fight

"Relegation has been inevitable for a while," Jewell, who took over at Derby in November 2007, told Sky Sports News. "It is horrible to be relegated.

"We put up a fight and played some football and I thought we were unfortunate not to win the game.

"I think the second goal summed our season up as the deflection knocked the stuffing out of us.

"But we bounced back and showed character and probably created more chances than since I have been here."

And Jewell now recognises Derby's last remaining aim is to avoid Sunderland's 2006 record low of 15 points in a Premier League season.

Dead and buried

"The season is obviously dead and buried as far as relegation is concerned," Jewell, whose side have 11 points, continued. "But if we can get another five points between now and the end of the season then at least it is something to hold on to from a very poor season."

But Jewell has set his sights on an immediate return to the Premier League and is confident striker Villa, who joined the Rams in January, will prove to be a shrewd signing in the long-term.

"Work has already started for next season and almost started the day I came in," Jewell added.

"We are quite excited about next season, but Villa getting two goals at home will do him the power of good and I think he will be a really good player next season.

"We are looking to bring about eight or nine new players to the squad and get some real quality in to take us out of the Championship and to the next level."