Derby Down Under - Don't Bring Me Down?
Saturday, 10th May 2008 15:56 by Daniel J Sewart

Is there any satisfaction to gain from a season gone horribly wrong ending with inflicting relegation to a fellow struggler? In one word… yes!

It is not that I personally have anything against Reading, in-fact I enjoyed their giant killing exploits last season as they dug deep and fought their way to premiership security. Derby fans hoped their club would emulate the gritty heroics that the Royals produced last season but of course history will show that sadly it would not be the case.

If Derby succeed in clinching only their second victory for the campaign and give Paul Jewell his first as Derby manager, I doubt many fans would feel very guilty about the result. After the suffering the team has put their loyal minions through week in, week out, a win of any consequence would be just reward. On top of that any positive vibes that can be taken into next season would be welcomed by all at the club especially those holding the purse strings.

In many ways Reading have had a more dismal season than Derby. You may reel in shock at my attempts to even attempt to compare anyone to the newly crowned worst Premiership side in league history. Yes the season has been an absolute disaster but every pundit and a fair percentage of fans expected the Rams to be relegated. It was the disappointment from the ordinary efforts regularly on display and the way in which the final chapter was reached well before the book was even half read that hurt the most.

Last season Reading took all before them, not only securing Premiership status against the odds and popular opinion, they did it quite comfortably. With such a talented squad and the difficult first year out of the way, Reading fans would have expected to have so much more to look forward too than the three promoted sides and would have expected more of the same this time round. Unfortunately this expectation became desperation very early in the season.

The most upsetting fact for fans of Reading is that there is probably five teams worse overall than the squad they are fielding. Late season form has seen two of these teams on the brink escaping which weeks ago would have seemed impossible. If they are to be beaten by the Rams, sealing their relegation then Reading fans will have experienced a more disappointing season than Derby fans simply because of weight of expectation against the final result.

There will be no extra joy in the win if it means dragging another club down but should the Rams be victorious I for one wont feel guilty for a moment, if that’s what it takes to finally get three more points.

C’mon Ewe Rams!! :0)