The Rams had important successive home games next against Reading and West Bromwich Albion, teams near to opposite ends of the Championship table and Manager Clough was seeking more loan players prior to the 2009 loan transfer deadline on Thursday.

The manner of their defeat at Swansea City with a timid, punchless performance had to be put behind them; a much more positive approach to winning points was expected by fans by their reaction to last Friday’s performance. The pressure upon the Rams to win home points has increased.

Midfielder Bryan Hughes went back to Hull City after his month’s loan as Clough’s latest search for loan players involved the need for a pacy striker, as injuries to Porter, Commons, and Davies have left him short of options up front Goalkeeping cover was less crucial because Saul Deeney’s freak ankle injury wasn’t as bad as first thought.

Derby initially wanted Blackburn’s England Under-21 keeper Frank Fielding on loan but the Lancashire club didn’t want to send him out on loan for the moment. The Rams have another experienced goalkeeper, Welsh international Lewis Price out on loan at Wrexham.

Another out-of-favour Leicester City striker, DJ Campbell was reportedly in the frame for a loan spell with the Rams; “We’re pretty close, Nigel Clough said. “Tom Glick’s been working on it for a few days”, he continued, and Rams fans could barely contain their excitement. Sheffield Wednesday and Blackpool wanted DJ as well but he came to Derby, encouraged by his colleague from the Foxes’ lair, Paul Dickov who is enjoying is loan spell at Pride Park Stadium.

The Rams reserves took a 0-0 draw from Sheffield Wednesday in midweek, the game being played at the Looks Local Stadium (home of Unibond League side Stockbridge Park Steels). Clough used Lee Hendrie, Paul Connolly, Jay McEveley and Miles Addison though injury rehabs Commons, Porter and Davies were not risked.

An ex-Rams player passed on this week; midfielder Tony Parry, who was signed by Brian Clough from his former club Hartlepools United in 1972, has died aged 64. He was a tidy player but had limited opportunity at the Baseball Ground because of the depth of talent in Brian Clough’s League-title winning squad.

Those convicted of fraud, conspiracy and money-laundering in the Derby County Crown Court trial have been granted leave to appeal against their sentences. Whether Messrs Keith, Mackenzie, Mackay and Walters have their sentences reduced we shall learn on appeal but in the eyes of Rams fans they are forever discredited, having left the club close to extinction and in massive debt.

Derby’s “Final Bid” World Cup proposal ‘book’ went via the City Council on to England’s 2018 World Cup bid this week, to be lodged at Wembley Stadium alongside the other aspiring cities that have lodged their interest with the Football Association We will learn of the fate of their bids in mid-December but have to wait much longer to know if England’s bid to host the tournament has been successful. Nothingham and Leicester have also bid on behalf of the East Midlands.

Apparently, Derby’s bid went ahead without the inclusion of an agreement between Derby city council and Derby County FC to increase the capacity of Pride Park Stadium to 44,000.That’s a surprise, as most Rams fans thought that the ability to expand the stadium was a central factor in the attraction of Derby’s bid.

Does that mean that the DCFC board are stalling on backing the substantial investment required for stadium expansion? Are they anticipating that the city to foot some or the entire bill for an apparently temporary expansion, or was the timing and coordination of the Derby bid preparation found wanting? Surely that omission could jeopardise Derby’s participation?

There is also conflict at national level regarding England’s bid, with the recent resignation of the committee chairman and disputes about a sum of £250,000 wanted by the FA from each of the proposed host cities. Here’s hoping we can host the competition again - over 50 years after the 1966 triumph,

The ‘must-win’ home game versus Reading - a team that Derby County have had great difficulty in defeating over the years come around with everyone hoping for points to ease the worries at the wrong end of the Championship table.

Nigel Clough saved new loan signing DJ Campbell to the bench, as the striker had only one training session with his new colleagues since arrival from Leicester City. Nigel Clough restored Paul Dickov in attack and Stephen Pearson in midfield, with Jay McEveley replacing Dean Moxey at left back.

Clough was able to name a relatively strong substitute’s bench, with Addison, Livermore, Hendrie, DJ Campbell, Croft, and Connolly available for action. A surprisingly large crowd of over 30,100 watched the game, the second-largest Championship gate to Newcastle United’s clash with Swansea City and over 8,000 more than the Trees at home to Doncaster Rovers.

There was plenty of effort and endeavour from both sides but not much quality on show during an even first half. Teale went close with a drive but Derby couldn’t get the attacks to flow as Reading contained them and then looked to counter. Rob Hulse had little change from the Royals defence, Jay McEveley recovered from a shaky start to play well and Stephen Bywater’s clearing and kicking left more than a little to be desired.

Chances had been few and far between and there were muted grumbles from home fans as the whistle sounded to bring the first half to a close. It was Reading who penetrated the torpor first, Derby giving yet another goal away cheaply as a weak clearance from Shaun Barker found Sigurdsson on the edge of the penalty area. He drove in a low shot to give the Royals a precious lead after 56 minutes.

Thankfully, the Rams equalised within a few minutes. Derby showed some character and perked up, looking more dangerous. Stephen Pearson’s midfield running allowed an outlet and Teale was finding his feet on the flank. It was Teale who escaped to cross hard and low across the Reading six-yard box and Paul Green bundled home the ball from close range.

The relief was palpable and Derby improved, managing to wrench the lead with another quality strike, after Green missed a great chance to score again by taking too much time to shoot when in a good position. Rob Hulse eased Derby’s nerves however, with a quarter of an hour to go.

It was Teale again who romped up the left wing before back heeling to McEveley; the full back delivered a crisp low centre which Hulse thumped in to awaken the pensive Pride Park Stadium gathering. It was a cracking goal and gave Derby real hope that they could win the points.

Things are never easy for the Rams though and they came under severe pressure in the last quarter hour, despite having the advantage of an extra man after Reading had Shane Long sent off for a late lunge on Fredrick Stoor, who had to be substituted with an ankle injury. Derby were pegged back, looking nervous and fragile in those frantic closing stages, forced to defend by the determined Royals. Bywater made a crucial late save to preserve the lead.

Clough sacrificed Paul Dickov to reinforce midfield with Miles Addison but the Rams managed to hold what they had for a valuable victory, to move to 16th place and put 5 points between themselves and the relegation places. The manager was irritated by his team conceding yet another soft goal, even though Barker’s display otherwise earned him man of the match.

The win was vital because although Derby has another home game next Saturday, the visitors are 2nd placed West Bromwich Albion. They are in excellent form, won 4-0 at Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday and along with Newcastle United are favourites for automatic promotion straight back to the Premier League, wholly characteristic of their recent boing-boing yo-yo existence.

Derby then have two tough away games in succession at Preston and Watford and some points on the road must be garnered soon if it is not to be another chilly New Year relegation scrap.

The FA Cup 3rd Round draw saw the Rams drawn away to Staines Town or Millwall, who fought out a 1-1 draw at Staines. Millwall are currently in 10th place in League One; Staines are 8th from bottom of the Blue Square South. Derby should progress - but their away record is weak and they were turfed out of the Coca-Cola League Cup in August by League Two side Rotherham United.  

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RamsWeek 48 last year saw Derby ‘giving it all away’ as they had to battle for a draw at home to Preston North End and then caved in 3-0 away to Burnley away.

Jewell was busy as ever shuffling his large unwieldy pack, loaning Andy Todd out to Northampton Town and Jay McEveley to Charlton Athletic. He took centre half James Tomkins from West Ham United for a month and also snapped up Luke Varney on loan from Charlton. The under-used Addicks’ striker had a price tag of £1m or more for a permanent transfer in January, which Jewell couldn’t resist.

Jewell’s first-choice defenders Albrechtsen and Leacock were injured and so loanee Darren Powell partnered Lewin Nyatanga in defence against Preston in midweek. North End started very brightly but Derby took an 8th minute when Rob Hulse stabbed home a Paul Green centre.

The advantage didn’t last because Emanuel Villa gave away a soft penalty on 20 minutes for Preston to equalise. Some comic stupidity between Jordan Stewart and Roy Carroll only minutes later presented Preston forward Neil Mellor with an inviting back pass for the Lilywhites to restore their lead. Jordan Stewart made amends with a spectacular 25-yard equaliser for 2-2.

It was a year since Jewell replaced Billy Davies as Derby manager and Burnley, eyeing the Premier League, proved too strong for Jewell’s transitional team, running out 3-0 winners at Turf Moor. Varney and Tomkins made their debuts but there was little cheer for the Rams.

Burnley dominated and took easy goals off Derby’s ponderous, loose defence and the malaise that has bedevilled Derby’s recovery for so long was well on show that day. “I couldn’t believe what I was seeing, to be honest…it’s just not good enough”, said Jewell, and the fans agreed, again. Their team was 15th in the Championship table...so – no change there, really!

The Rams were drawn away to Blue Square Premier side Forest Green Rovers in the 3rd Round of the FA Cup.

Photo: Action Images

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