Derby desperate to beat Sunderland points low

Derby boss Paul Jewell, seen here in 2007, has set his players the target of avoiding the humiliation of the club finishing the season with a record low points total in the Premier League.

Derby boss Paul Jewell has set his players the target of avoiding the humiliation of the club finishing the season with a record low points total in the Premier League.

With only one win and nine points in the bag so far, the bottom side will struggle to overhaul the record low haul of 15, set in 2003 by Sunderland, who visit Pride Park on Saturday.

With relegation already accepted as inevitable, a victory over Roy Keane's side would put Jewell's men half-way to their only remaining goal for the season.

"To get past Sunderland's mark has to be our aim," Jewell said. "I'm embarrassed by our situation and I want the players to be as embarrassed and hurt by it as I am."

For Sunderland, a win on Saturday would be a significant boost to their chances of surviving in the top flight and Keane has happy memories of Pride Park, having begun his managerial career with a 2-1 win there in September 2006.

But the Black Cats boss acknowledges that his side's poor away form means Derby will be justified in harbouring hopes of a rare win.

"They will be thinking, 'If ever we can get a win, it will be playing Sunderland because of their away form'.

"I would expect us to go to Derby and get a good result, but there are no guarantees and with our away record, it's a strange one that we are favourites."

Sunderland have yet to win on the road in the league in 14 attempts this season but a good record at the Stadium of Light has enabled them to pull four points clear of the relegation zone.

Keane recognises that Sunderland are far from safe, but is satisfied with how far the club have come since that first game at Derby.

"I've learnt a lot and there is no doubt there has been progress at the club. That first game at Derby feels like yesterday. I enjoyed the day and the result and if we have the same feelings on Saturday I'll be pleased."

Jewell meanwhile has dismissed criticism of Robbie Savage after the midfielder treated himself to a new Mercedes worth 160,000 pounds.

When Sunderland were relegated in 2003, their then-manager Mick McCarthy fined Michael Gray and stripped him of the captaincy for what he regarded as his insensitive purchase of a new Ferrari at a time when the club were preparing to make some staff redundant.

Jewell however said Savage's situation was different. "Sav had a flash car before he got here," the manager said.

"He's played in the Premier League all his life so he's entitled to earn a lot of money and spend it how he likes. It's when people drive a flash car and think they've cracked it that it's more of a problem."