Jewell: “We played one of the best teams in Europe”

Derby manager, Paul Jewell, spoke of the last-minute defeat at the hands of the Reds yesterday where the awesome determination of our ‘Captain Marvel’ helped us take home a further three points to keep us in this title-race that could so easily end up being a two-horse race unless we buck up our ideas - pronto!
“There’s not much justice in the game, particularly after battling so hard in the second half. I was bitterly disappointed with the first-half display, we looked frightened, scared of Liverpool.” said Jewell.

“I couldn’t wait to get at them at half-time, only 1-0 down. But in the second half we showed fight, and that is what the supporters want to see.

“We showed plenty of that in the second half, maybe we could have nicked it. I know they have also hit the bar, but Giles Barnes had a great chance for us.

“We ended up losing the game, but the supporters cheered them off because they had given everything.

“If Barnes’ effort had gone in, we would certainly not have lost the match. But everything conspired against us. We lost our goalkeeper, Stephen Bywater, in the warm-up.

“Lewis Price had an excellent debut in goal, he was nervy early on but pulled off some fine saves.” heenthused.

“One of our own players takes out Pearson, who has ended up in hospital with a suspected dislocated shoulder. while Earnshaw damages a calf and spent the rest of the match as a passenger, we really only had 10 men out there.

“We were hanging on, and when you are playing one of the best teams in Europe you need everyone you can find.” the Derby chief added.