Paul Jewell, who unashamedly lost his temper after the Wigan debacle, made a couple of changes to the team that faced Sunderland.

Derby County 0-0 Sunderland

Another insufferable viewing at Pride Park in terms of entertainment value but some positives from the Rams after an insipid performance at the JJB Stadium seven days previously; effort and desire, two principles that we take for granted but which were absent against Wigan, returned and whilst we were extremely fortunate to get a point, it is a result which sees us at least get to double figures for the season and although that is a pitiful return, it is one that looked out of reach just a week ago.

Unsurprisingly given the week's events, Robbie Savage was nowhere to be seen due to his obvious lack of fitness, form and perhaps even as a message that no matter who you think you are, this manager will put you in your place. Jewell appears determined to make a wholesale changes to the playing staff in the summer and he is clearly disgusted at what he has been witnessing since taking over at the club just over four months ago; in the first few weeks he said all the right things and made a clear attempt to give the players the time to impress themselves upon their new manager.

Obviously that didn't happen and Jewell's feelings on that lack of desire to prove themselves, even to get a move away from the club (read: Giles Barnes) have come to fore and the lads have finally received a right rollicking which you don't tend to see from a manager, in public at least, but which nearly every fan paying out hundreds of pounds in ticket prices has been waiting to see for a good while.

Said dressing down appeared to have the right effect against Sunderland as whilst the quality of football was shocking for large periods, the effort and desire to make things difficult for the visitors was there for all to see and worth applause. Alan Stubbs was massive at the back once again and he was joined by Pearson and Edworthy in giving everything for the cause.

Of note was Marc Edworthy who said after the game that he was playing for a new contract which surprised me as I would consider Edworthy is being in the group of veteran players who are effectively gone at the end of the season. It didn't occur to me that the likes of Edworthy had a chance to stay but to be fair he had made a good fist of his chances this season and if Paul Jewell wants to give him another year then I won't argue.

David Jones also made a welcome return and showed flashes of being a Premier League player and I would implore the manager to give Jones a real chance between now and the end of the season; let's see a talented player get the chance to prove himself rather than continuing with players who have no future at the club i.e. Lewis and even Ghaly who is unlikely to stay once we are relegated.

As for the game itself it was another match of frighteningly little quality aside from a few moments, one of which nearly resulted in a Sunderland goal; Nosworthy hit a long pass in the direction of Darryl Murphy who expertly controlled the ball and curled a wonderful which beat Carroll but could only find the post.

The second let off for the Rams was thanks to a dreadful decision by the assistant referee who somehow contrived to give Michael Chopra offside when he poked home Andy Reid's through ball despite the fact that he was easily behind Jay McEveley when the ball was played. Of all the things I've noticed in our return to the top flight, the poor quality of the officials has been one of the most remarkable and this was just another day in that regard.

As for the Rams, well there was very little to shout about going forward; Kenny Miller and Tito Villa ran around a lot but got very little change thanks to stout defending and the distribution of Darren Moore. If Jones is going to play he needs to be given the ball and there wasn't nearly enough of that going on as the defence continued with the incessant punting that has gone on all of the season and stretches back into last when Steve Howard was with us.

I'm all for winning any which way but if you can't win to save your lives at least try and play a bit of football lads, please.

Please.

Rams: Carroll 7; Stubbs 7; Edworthy 7; McEveley 5; Moore 5; Pearson 6; Sterjovski 6 (Fagan 5); Lewis 5; Jones 6 (Ghaly 6); Villa 6 (Earnshaw 5); Miller 6.

Sunderland: Gordon; Bardsley; Evans; Higginbotham; Nosworthy; Whitehead; Reid (Leadbitter); Richardson; Chopra; Jones; Murphy (Stokes).

Referee: M. Riley.

Attendance: 33,058.

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