Stewart has faith that Rams can still hit the heights
Monday 01 September 2008
Jordan Stewart says Derby County can bounce back from the bottom of the Championship to win promotion.
Derby’s 2-0 defeat to Barnsley at Oakwell on Saturday saw the Rams replace the Tykes at the foot of the table.
Stewart points to Crystal Palace and Sunderland as recent examples of clubs who have recovered from poor starts to mount promotion challenges.
“We’d rather be at the top than at the bottom but there’s only four games gone,” said Stewart.
"We know we’ve got good enough players to get promotion but we know we need to get results soon.
"We can definitely still get promoted. I remember a couple of seasons ago when Crystal Palace were right near the bottom up until Christmas and then went on a great run and got in the play-offs.
“Sunderland went up after a slow start. The league is never won after four games. We’ve just got to keep working hard and I’m sure our luck will come good.”
Derby were the better side for much of the match at Oakwell but failed to make their pressure count and were constantly frustrated by man-of-the-match Luke Steele in the Tykes’ goal.
They were made to pay when Iain Hume hit a cracking half-volley from 20 yards to give Barnsley the lead after 71 minutes.
Stephen Foster’s 82nd-minute header sealed Derby’s fate.
"They only had a couple of chances and scored both of them.
“We had untold chances and their keeper has made a lot of saves,” said Stewart.
“Even some of their players, who I spoke to after the game, thought we dominated for an hour.”
Other stories on this day
- Rams defender mears is set to join marseille
- Best yet but still no win as the Rams sink to the basement
- Jewell: No time to feel sorry for ourselves
- Derby County connections that found the back of the net at the weekend