2007–08 Derby County F.C. season

February 2015 January 2020 Derby County F.C. 2007–08 Billy Davies (until 26 November)Paul Jewell Peter Gadsby (until October)Adam Pearson (until January)Andrew Appleby Premier League 20th (relegated) FA Cup Fourth round League Cup Second round Kenny Miller (4) Kenny Miller (6) 33,087 (vs. Reading, 11 May 2008) 30,048 (vs. Blackburn Rovers, 30 December 2007) 32,432 _om09rld _om09rld _om09rld _DFB_00h _adidasblackl 000000 FFFFFF 000000 000000 FFFFFF _derbyc0708a _derbyc0708a _derbyc0708a _adidasblack _adidaswhitel 000000 000000 000000 FFFFFF 000000 2006–07 2008–09 The 2007–08 season was Derby County's 7th season in the Premier League, their 65th season in the top division of English football and their first season in the top flight since the 2001–02 season. They were promoted after beating West Bromwich Albion 1–0 in the 2007 Championship play-off final. After a very poor start to the season, manager Billy Davies left the club on 26 November 2007 after winning only one game to be replaced by former Wigan Athletic manager Paul Jewell. Jewell failed to turn things around for Derby, and the club spent most of the season at the foot of the table, recording a club and top-flight record run of 32 league games without a win. Derby were officially relegated on 29 March 2008 after their 2–2 home draw with fellow strugglers Fulham and Birmingham City's 3–1 victory over Manchester City left them 19 points away from safety with only 6 games left. This made Derby the first club in Premier League history to be relegated in March, the earliest team to be relegated in terms of date, and the first since Sheffield United in 1975–76 to go down from the top flight from that month, at the time only the second time it had ever happened in post-war English Football league history, before Huddersfield Town were relegated in March 2019;Phil McNulty Derby 2–2 Fulham https://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/7309363.stm BBC Sport 29 March 2008 29 March 2008 this record was subsequently broken by Southampton in 2025. They also accumulated the league's lowest points total since the introduction of 3 points for a win with just 11 points, as well as the record for the fewest wins in a Premier League season with just one victory in 38 games; also most defeats (29 - a record subsequently broken by Southampton F.C.), fewest goals scored (20 - a record subsequently equalled by Sheffield United), most goals conceded in a 38-game season (89 - subsequently broken by Sheffield United)https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/derby-county-200708-worst-premier-league-season-ever Derby County's shocking 2007/08 revisited: the Premier League's worst ever season, told by those who were there Flanagan Chris fourfourtwo.com 13 November 2017 22 December 2025 Review Derby's season began with a 2–2 draw against Portsmouth on the opening day of the season, followed by a narrow 1–0 defeat away to Sven-Göran Eriksson's Manchester City (the only two games which Derby spent outside the bottom three), but then conceded a total of 12 goals in three successive defeats. Following their 6–0 defeat to Liverpool on 1 September 2007, Irish bookmakers Paddy Power decided to pay out on the club to be relegated after just five games of the new season.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Power+ready+to+pay+out+on+Rams+falling.-a0168224148 Power ready to pay out on Rams falling Mark Langdon Racing Post 1 September 2007 9 November 2013 The poor start saw fans accuse Gadsby and the board of failing to invest properly in players for the club. The repercussions of this saw Trevor Birch leave his position as Chief Executive on 19 October 2007Birch leaves Derby chief exec job BBC Sport Online and, on 29 October 2007, Gadsby stepped down as chairman to be replaced by former Hull City owner Adam Pearson.New Derby chairman backs Davies BBC Sport Online Meanwhile, results on the pitch were not improving, with another poor performance away to Aston Villa followed up by a 5–0 home defeat against a West Ham United side ravaged by injuries. After taking just 6 points from 14 matches, including their only win of the season with a 1–0 victory against Newcastle United, Davies left by mutual consent after a meeting with Adam Pearson, taking nearly all of his newly assembled backroom staff with him.Bily Davies leaves Derby by mutual consent Times online The club had just been beaten 2–0 at home to Chelsea and were rooted to the bottom of the table. After the game, Davies had publicly criticised Derby's board for a lack of investment. Some critics believed that Davies was a victim of his own success after overachieving in his first season at Pride Park,BBC Sport Billy Davies leaves Derby County 27 November 2007 2 December 2007 https://www.bbc.co.uk/derby/content/articles/2007/11/26/davies_departure_2007_feature.shtml while others cited his apparent tactical inefficiencies at top flight level, poor big money signings (including £3m Claude Davistherams.co.uk Gerald Mortimer: No sad farewell to Davis 2 September 2009 9 November 2013 http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/Gerald-Mortimer-sad-farewell-Davis/story-11592105-detail/story.html https://web.archive.org/web/20141027182308/http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/Gerald-Mortimer-sad-farewell-Davis/story-11592105-detail/story.html 27 October 2014 dead) and suggested Davies had engineered his own departure, in the form of an outspoken rant against the boardThe Guardian Davies rages at Derby dilemma 25 November 2007 9 November 2013 https://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/nov/25/match.chelsea London Jamie Jackson so as to avoid having a relegation on his CV. Within two days of Davies's dismissal, on 26 November 2007, Derby appointed highly rated former Wigan Athletic manager Paul Jewell.Paul Jewell appointed Derby manager Telegraph He initially appointed Stan Ternent as his assistant but, when Ternent left to become Huddersfield Town manager in April, Jewell moved to appoint Chris Hutchings Hutchings set to take Derby role https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/derby_county/7364460.stm BBC Sport 24 April 2008 24 April 2008 who had been his assistant at both Bradford City and Wigan. Jewell's first match in charge was a 1–0 defeat away at Sunderland on 1 December 2007, the winning goal coming in stoppage time. Although performances improved under Jewell, results didn't. The team developed a habit of conceding late goals and following the defeat to Sunderland, Derby conceded late winners or equalisers in seven games between late December 2007 and late January 2008, dropping seven points from games they had been winning or drawing. Many at the club had in fact already accepted relegation by the end of December 2007.April 2018 Jewell was busy in the January 2008 transfer window, selling several players and bringing eight new players in, namely Everton defender Alan Stubbs,Stubbs Brings Steel http://origin-www.dcfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10270~1230028,00.html dcfc.co.uk 31 January 2008 9 November 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20131105164920/http://origin-www.dcfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10270~1230028,00.html 5 November 2013 dead Argentine striker Emanuel Villa,Rams sign Argentine striker Villa https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/derby_county/7166848.stm BBC Sport 4 January 2008 ex-England international defender Danny Mills on loan from Manchester City, Blackburn midfielder Robbie Savage,https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/b/blackburn_rovers/7166114.stm Savage completes switch to Derby 9 January 2008 BBC Sport French winger Laurent Robert, Tottenham's Egyptian midfielder Hossam Ghaly on loan, Hossam Ghaly recruited for Derby's rescue effort http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article3168714.ece Timesonline.co.uk 1 November 2007 London Gary Jacob Peter Lansley Nick SzczepanikSeptember 2024 medicmedic Gençlerbirliği's Mile Sterjovski Derby complete Sterjovski signing https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/d/derby_county/7180692.stm BBC Sport 24 January 2007 and Rangers goalkeeper Roy Carroll.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/d/derby_county/7258258.stm BBC Sport Carroll Extends Derby Stay 22 February 2008 On 28 January 2008, it was announced that Derby had been purchased by American group General Sports and Entertainment, with Tom Glick taking the role of new President and Chief Executive.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/d/derby_county/7210230.stm New owners reveal Derby ambition 28 January 2008 news.bbc.co.uk Derby's relegation was confirmed on 29 March, the first time a club had been relegated from the division before April and sealing the club's first immediate relegation following promotion in its history. Poor results continued: a 6–0 home defeat at the hands of Aston Villa on 12 April 2008 is the biggest defeat at Pride Park and, by the season's end, Derby had recorded the Premier League's lowest points totalDismal Derby take Cats' sad place in the record books http://www.sunderlandecho.com/sport/dismal-derby-take-cats-sad-place-in-the-record-books-1-1149317 Sunderland Echo 29 March 2008 9 November 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20131102124833/http://www.sunderlandecho.com/sport/dismal-derby-take-cats-sad-place-in-the-record-books-1-1149317 2 November 2013 dead and equalled Loughborough's 108-year Football League record of going through an entire season with only one win. Their final game of the season was a 4–0 home defeat to Reading, who were also relegated. League table 2007–08 Premier LeagueDER Playing squad Squad at end of season 1 WAL GK Lewis Price 2 ENG DF Marc Edworthy 4 SCO DF Jay McEveley 5 ENG DF Dean Leacock 6 JAM DF Michael Johnson 7 ENG MF David Jones 8 ENG DF Alan Stubbs 9 ARG FW Emanuel Villa 10 WAL FW Robert Earnshaw 14 SCO FW Kenny Miller 15 USA MF Eddie Lewis 16 SCO MF Gary Teale 17 ENG DF Andy Todd 19 JAM DF Claude Davis 20 ENG MF Lee Holmes 21 AUS MF Mile Sterjovski 22 USA MF Benny Feilhaber 23 JAM DF Darren Moore 24 JAM DF Tyrone Mears 25 SCO MF Stephen Pearson 28 JAM MF Giles Barnes 29 ENG GK Ben Hinchliffe 30 WAL DF Lewin Nyatanga 31 NIR GK Roy Carroll 32 ENG DF Miles Addison 33 ENG DF Mitchell Hanson 34 ENG MF Matthew Richards 35 ENG DF Jason Beardsley 40 EGY MF Hossam Ghaly on loan from Tottenham 41 ENG FW Paris Simmons 44 WAL MF Robbie Savage captain AUS MF Ruben Zadkovich Left club during season 3 GUI DF Mo Camara on loan to Norwich City 8 ENG MF Matt Oakley to Leicester City 9 SCO FW Steve HowardHoward was born in Durham, England, but also qualified to represent Scotland internationally and represented them at B level. to Leicester City 11 ENG MF Craig Fagan on loan to Hull City 12 IRL FW Jon MackenMacken was born in Blackley, England, and represented them at U-20 level, but also qualifies to represent the Republic of Ireland internationally and made his international debut for the Republic of Ireland in August 2004. to Barnsley 18 ENG DF Andy Griffin to Stoke City 21 SCO DF Bob Malcolm to Motherwell 26 FRA MF Laurent Robert to Toronto FC 27 ENG DF Danny Mills on loan from Manchester City 43 ENG GK Stephen Bywater on loan to Ipswich Town Transfers Summer 2007 transfer window In 29 June 2007 – Robert Earnshaw – £3.5m, from Norwich City Derby sign £3.5m striker Earnshaw https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/d/derby_county/6254710.stm BBC BBC Sport 29 June 2007 5 May 2012 4 July 2007 – Tyrone Mears – £1m, from West Ham Unitedhttps://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/d/derby_county/6270026.stm Derby complete signing of Mears 4 July 2007 5 May 2012 BBC Sport 7 July 2007 – Andy Todd – £750k, from Blackburn RoversTodd joins Derby lancashiretelegraph.co.uk http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/1527918.todd_joins_derby/ 7 July 2007 5 May 2012 10 July 2007 – Ben Hinchliffe – free transferCounty tie up Todd swoop football.co.uk http://www.football.co.uk/derby_county/county_tie_up_todd_swoop_249292.shtml 10 July 2007 5 May 2012 25 July 2007 – Claude Davis – £3m, from Sheffield United"Davis agrees £3m switch to Derby", BBC Sport, 6 July 2007. Retrieved 5 May 2012. 26 July 2007 – Lewis Price – undisclosed, from Ipswich TownPrice completes transfer to Derby https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/derby_county/6918622.stm BBC Sport 27 July 2007 5 May 2012 1 August 2007 – Andy Griffin – free transfer from Portsmouthhttps://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/d/derby_county/6925923.stm BBC Sport British Broadcasting Corporation Derby complete capture of Griffin 1 August 2007 5 May 2012 10 August 2007 – Benny Feilhaber – undisclosed, from Hamburghttp://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/2007-08-09-3279345843_x.htm U.S. midfielder Benny Feilhaber gets work permit to play for Derby County USA Today Associated Press 9 August 2007 9 November 2013 20 August 2007 – Eddie Lewis – undisclosed, from Leeds UnitedEddie Lewis Is A Ram dcfc.co.uk http://origin-www.dcfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10270~1095930,00.html 20 August 2007 9 November 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20131110050954/http://origin-www.dcfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10270~1095930,00.html 10 November 2013 dead 31 August 2007 – Kenny Miller – £2.25m, from CelticJewell demands fair Miller price BBC Sport https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/d/derby_county/7280869.stm 6 March 2008 5 May 2012 Out 31 May 2007 – Seth Johnson – retirementhttps://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/d/derby_county/6712833.stm Experienced pair to leave Derby 5 May 2012 1 June 2007 BBC Sport 31 May 2007 – Lionel Ainsworth – released 31 May 2007 – Morten Bisgaard – released 31 May 2007 – Paul Boertien – released 31 May 2007 – Steven Cann – released 31 May 2007 – Tom Cumberworth – released 31 May 2007 – Lee Grant – released 5 July 2007 – Ryan Smith – £150k, to MillwallMillwall tie up Rams winger Smith https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/millwall/6253552.stm BBC Sport 5 July 2007 5 May 2012 27 July 2007 – Lee Camp – £200k, to Queens Park Rangershttp://www.qpr.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10373~1071616,00.html https://web.archive.org/web/20120717035237/http://www.qpr.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10373~1071616%2C00.html 17 July 2012 Camp pens deal Queens Park Rangers F.C. 27 July 2007 9 November 2013 dead 31 July 2007 – James Meredith – free transfer to Sligo Rovershttp://www.sligorovers.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=384:sligo-rovers-announce-new-signings&catid=26:2007&Itemid=112 https://web.archive.org/web/20110930052148/http://www.sligorovers.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=384%3Asligo-rovers-announce-new-signings&catid=26%3A2007&Itemid=112 30 September 2011 Sligo Rovers announce new signings Sligo Rovers F.C 31 July 2007 9 November 2013 dead 8 August 2007 – Richard Jackson – free transfer to Luton TownLuton sign ex-Derby man Jackson BBC 8 August 2007 https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/luton_town/6936551.stm 5 May 2012 January 2008 transfer window In 4 January 2008 – Danny Mills – on loan from Manchester Cityhttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2287985/Danny-Mills-joins-Derby-on-loan.html Danny Mills joins Derby on loan The Daily Telegraph 4 January 2008 5 May 2012 4 January 2008 – Emanuel Villa – £2m, from Estudiantes Tecos 9 January 2008 – Laurent Robert – free transferDerby confirm signing of Robert https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/derby_county/7174189.stm BBC Sport 11 January 2008 5 May 2012 9 January 2008 – Robbie Savage – £1.5m, from Blackburn Rovers 11 January 2008 – Hossam Ghaly – on loan from Tottenham Hotspur 31 January 2008 – Roy Carroll – free transfer from Rangershttps://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/derby_county/7206567.stm BBC Sport website Derby capture goalkeeper Carroll 31 January 2008 5 May 2012 31 January 2008 – Mile Sterjovski – undisclosed, from Gençlerbirliği 31 January 2008 – Alan Stubbs – free transfer from Everton 11 April 2008 – Ruben Zadkovich – free transfer from Sydney FChttps://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/d/derby_county/7351979.stm Derby complete Zadkovich signing 5 May 2012 17 April 2008 BBC Out 3 January 2008 – Steve Howard – £1.25m, to Leicester City Leicester confirm deal for Howard https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/l/leicester_city/7165982.stm BBC Sport 1 January 2008 5 May 2012 11 January 2008 – Andy Griffin – £300k, to Stoke Cityhttps://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/s/stoke_city/7182290.stm Griffin ties up Potters transfer BBC Sport British Broadcasting Corporation 11 January 2008 5 May 2012 11 January 2008 – Matt Oakley – £500k, to Leicester City Oakley secures Leicester switch https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/l/leicester_city/7182920.stm BBC 11 January 2008 5 May 2012 28 January 2008 – Jon Macken – £200k, to Barnsleyhttps://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/b/barnsley/7213604.stm Barnsley capture Macken from Rams BBC Sport 28 January 2008 5 May 2012 31 January 2008 – Bob Malcolm – contract terminatedNyatanga and Malcolm head out Derby County official website 31 January 2008 http://origin-www.dcfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10270~1230490,00.html 5 May 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20131110051002/http://origin-www.dcfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10270~1230490,00.html 10 November 2013 dead 31 January 2008 – Lewin Nyatanga – loan to Barnsley 29 February 2008 – Michael Johnson – loan to Notts Countyhttp://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11768/3215660/magpies-seal-rams-raid Magpies seal Rams raid 9 November 2013 29 February 2008 Sky Sports 2 April 2008 – Laurent Robert – free transfer to Toronto FCRobert leaves Derby for Toronto https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/d/derby_county/7324508.stm BBC Sport 2 April 2008 5 May 2012 Results Premier League WinDrawLoss +DateOpponentsVenueResultscore notes Derby County's score shown firstScorersAttendancePosition11 August 2007PortsmouthH2–2Oakley 5 Todd 8432,1767th15 August 2007Manchester CityA0–143,62014th18 August 2007Tottenham HotspurA0–435,60019th25 August 2007Birmingham CityH1–2Oakley 5131,11720th1 September 2007LiverpoolA0–644,07620th17 September 2007Newcastle UnitedH1–0Miller 3933,01619th22 September 2007ArsenalA0–560,12219th29 September 2007Bolton WanderersH1–1Miller 1931,50320th7 October 2007ReadingA0–123,09120th20 October 2007FulhamA0–022,57619th28 October 2007EvertonH0–233,04820th3 November 2007Aston VillaA0–240,93820th10 November 2007West Ham UnitedH0–532,44020th24 November 2007ChelseaH0–232,78920th1 December 2007SunderlandA0–142,38020th8 December 2007Manchester UnitedA1–4Howard 7675,72520th15 December 2007MiddlesbroughH0–132,67620th23 December 2007Newcastle UnitedA2–2Barnes 6 Miller 5251,38620th26 December 2007LiverpoolH1–2McEveley 6733,02920th30 December 2007Blackburn RoversH1–2Oakley 2730,04820th2 January 2008Bolton WanderersA0–117,01420th12 January 2008Wigan AthleticH0–131,65820th19 January 2008PortsmouthA1–3Nyatanga 419,40120th30 January 2008Manchester CityH1–1Sun Jihai 46 o.g.31,36820th2 February 2008Birmingham CityA1–1 Villa 8925,92420th9 February 2008Tottenham HotspurH0–333,05820th23 February 2008Wigan AthleticA0–220,17620th1 March 2008SunderlandH0–033,05820th12 March 2008ChelseaA1–6Jones 7239,44720th15 March 2008Manchester UnitedH0–133,07220th22 March 2008MiddlesbroughA0–125,64920th29 March 2008FulhamH2–2 Villa 10 8033,03420th [R]6 April 2008EvertonA0–136,01720th12 April 2008Aston VillaH0–633,03620th19 April 2008West Ham UnitedA1–2 Mears 6534,61220th28 April 2008ArsenalH2–6McEveley 31 Earnshaw 7733,00320th3 May 2008Blackburn RoversA1–3Miller 1826,11020th11 May 2008ReadingH0–433,08720th FA Cup WinDrawLoss +DateRoundOpponentsVenueResultscore notesScorersAttendance6 January 2008Round 3Sheffield WednesdayH 2–2Miller 38 Barnes 4520,61222 January 2008Round 3 replaySheffield WednesdayA1–1 (4–2p)Miller 4718,02026 January 2008Round 4Preston North EndH1–4Earnshaw 5517,344 Football League Cup WinDrawLoss +DateRoundOpponentsVenueResultscore notesScorersAttendance28 August 2007Round 2BlackpoolH2–2 (6–7p) Camara 63, Fagan 1018,658 Squad statistics Appearances, goals and cards No.Pos.NameLeagueFA CupLeague CupTotalDisciplineAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals13px13px1GKWAL Lewis Price60300090002DFENG Marc Edworthy7/2020009/20003DFGUI Mohammed Camara10001121004DFSCO Jay McEveley21/82001022/82605DFENG Dean Leacock22/40101024/40406DFJAM Michael Johnson1/200/10001/30007MFENG David Jones11/31001012/31408MFENG Matt Oakley1931000203308DFENG Alan Stubbs80000080309FWSCO Steve Howard14/61000/1014/71309FWARG Emanuel Villa9/73100010/732010FWWAL Robert Earnshaw7/1510/21108/1720011MFENG Craig Fagan17/50201120/516012FWIRL Jon Macken0/300/10000/400014FWSCO Kenny Miller30432003364015MFUSA Eddie Lewis22/202/100024/303016MFSCO Gary Teale9/902/101012/1001017DFENG Andy Todd14/51300/1017/613018DFENG Andy Griffin13/20000013/204019DFJAM Claude Davis19020002103120MFENG Lee Holmes000000000021DFSCO Bob Malcolm100010200021MFAUS Mile Sterjovski9/3000009/300022MFUSA Benny Feilhaber1/9000001/901023DFJAM Darren Moore29/201/101031/305024DFENG Tyrone Mears22/31100023/312025MFSCO Stephen Pearson23/10200/1025/201026MFFRA Laurent Robert0030103/101027DFENG Danny Mills201000301028MFENG Giles Barnes14/722/110016/830029GKENG Ben Hinchliffe000000000030DFWAL Lewin Nyatanga212000411031GKNIR Roy Carroll14000001400032DFENG Miles Addison100000100033DFENG Mitchell Hanson000000000034MFENG Matthew Richards000000000035DFENG Jason Beardsley000010101040MFEGY Hossam Ghaly13/20100014/202041FWENG Paris Simmons0/1000000/100043GKENG Stephen Bywater18000101901044MFWAL Robbie Savage160100017040 Notes notes References External links Derby County FC official site Derby County FC on Soccerbase https://web.archive.org/web/20110111045600/http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=747 11 January 2011 Category:Derby County F.C. seasons Derby County