Jewell: Derby not good enough May 02 2008
Paul Jewell insists Derby will not warrant any sympathy if they officially become the worst team to have ever played in the Premier League this weekend.
The relegated Rams need maximum points from their remaining two games of the campaign if they are to beat Sunderland's record low of 15 set two years ago.
County, still on just 11 points after only one victory all season, travel to Blackburn this weekend before wrapping up proceedings with the visit of Reading.
Considering they have failed in all 18 of their attempts to win away from Pride Park in the league this term, the task will prove far easier said than done.
And Jewell, who is yet to preside over a top-flight victory since his November arrival, admits the club can have no complaints should the tag come their way.
"It will be deserved," he said. "If you've got the least number of points, least number of goals and the most goals against I don't think it's harsh to be remembered as the worst team in the league.
"But it would be nice to be remembered as a team that bounced back."
Jewell admits his vulnerable team have been "eaten alive" by the Premier League's predators all season and were simply not ready to cope with life in the top flight.
He added: "It tells you everything when our players vote for player of the year and the supporters get it. They've been unbelievably good.
"But you can't insult their intelligence, they're not daft, they know maybe Derby weren't the best team in the league last year.
"I'm a big believer that you finish where you deserve to but a lot of people I speak to say Derby were quite fortunate last year in a lot of games and supporters have probably known from day one they probably weren't good.
"When you are not good enough in the Premier League it just eats you alive and that's what's happened to us."