Derby edge closer to the drop

Derby 1 Blackburn Rovers 2:Paul Jewell does not concede Derby County will be relegated but others are more realistic. There are 18 league matches and more than four months of the season remaining but after a sixth successive home defeat one leading bookmaker last night paid out on Derby relinquishing their top-flight status.

There was a flicker of hope when Steve Howard, placing the ball on the penalty spot, had a chance to put Derby two goals ahead before the interval. But hope turned to despair, Brad Friedel smothering the kick and Blackburn Rovers scoring twice in the next five minutes. That Blackburn were able to take advantage of Howard's wastefulness owed much to David Bentley. The England international's cross led to Roque Santa Cruz equalising before he propelled a low drive beyond Lewis Price to put Rovers in front.

"I thought David was excellent," said Mark Hughes. "He was one of our main players. I thought he showed not only his technical ability but his ability to work hard for the team."

Bentley's contribution might well have been undermined, however, when Aaron Mokoena was fortunate to escape a red card. The midfielder had been booked when he challenged Matt Oakley with his studs dangerously raised early in the second half.

Jewell was aghast at the way his side imploded after Howard's miss. Having taken the lead through Oakley, the midfielder stroking a right-foot shot beyond Friedel after Giles Barnes's adroit touch, Jewell saw no reason for such a negative reaction to Howard's failure from the spot after Ryan Nelsen had felled Kenny Miller. Rovers were level inside two minutes of the penalty miss as Santa Cruz tapped home after Benni McCarthy's stabbed shot from Bentley's delivery was repelled by Price.

Still reeling from that setback, Derby conceded again moments later when Bentley advanced and drilled a 25-yard shot inside the near post. Benny Feilhaber troubled Friedel from distance and Claude Davis headed wide in the 87th minute but it was Blackburn who came closer to scoring again, Bentley striking an upright.

"I don't think Ladbrokes paying out makes any difference to the players," added Jewell. "It's nothing to do with bookmakers."