Relegation for the Rams

So relegation is now confirmed for Derby County. There has been little hope for most of the season, even though the opening result – a draw against Portsmouth – was some encouragement, as was the solitary win against Newcastle on 17 September. For me at least the defeat against Birmingham on 25 August was a very ominous sign, in its way even worse than the 6-0 defeat against Liverpool on 1 September. My reasoning was that several sides would lose at Anfield and nonetheless escape relegation, but few would lose at home to Birmingham – a side that Derby led in terms of league position for much of the 2006-07 season – and still survive.

As Derby’s supporters, although possibly not many of the players – look forward to the Championship, I am left wondering what is the best a club like Derby can expect in playing terms. The top of the Premiership table is dominated by four sides that will probably stay there for a long time, but Portsmouth after 32 games lies in sixth position. Meanwhile, West Bromwich Albion, the team Derby defeated to win their place in the Premiership, has a semi-final fixture against Portsmouth in the most open F.A. cup competition for many years. There is still a place in football, perhaps, for clubs outside the wealthy elite.