Pride restored as Derby narrowly lost to West Ham, the Rams applauded frrom the field whilst the Hammers leave to boos. It's a strange game.

Another week another defeat. This time it's close. The details. A free kick floated in. Leacock turns, faces goal as if watching for the ball to fly out for a goal kick whilst Zamora like a leaf in a gentle breeze, floats past and lifts into the air to head home. It's well taken but gifted by the lack on concentration by the bandanna wearing one.

It's the cumulation of twenty minutes of dominance courtesy of a referee who seems to understand touch rugby (you're touched and it's a foul), better than football. And before all the Irons smite down with their hammers that's not a criticism of your team or the football you play, rather that when you're at the bottom everything goes against you.

Against all odds Jewell is redeemed by an equaliser. Hossam Ghaly releases Mears on the right wing, a perfect ball hit straight at Green in goal "Don't know what Mears is, but he's not a right winger" I despairingly comment. Three minutes later the same combination and this time Tyrone lifts the ball sweetly over the diving keeper into the back of the net. One all, twelve points agonisingly close.

It's not to be. More defensive errors, Todd caught out by Ljungberg and Cole has the job of a simple tap in.

Final whistle, lost 2-1 we applaud the Rams, West Ham fans boo the Hammers. An empty ground and the visitors the last ones out. "Premier League and we are having a laugh".

Leaving we reflect on the records we are setting. Lowest ever Premiership points, worst goal difference, earliest ever relegated, most defeats in a Premiership season, matching the lowest number of wins ever in a season, possibly more. One I'm not sure of, having the manager who has gone the greatest number of matches without a win, perhaps the stattos out there will know.

Strangely I don't care because for some unknown reason being there is the important thing, irrespective of the results, irrespective of the players who don't care, irrespective of Board Room mirrors and smokescreens. Buyouts and Sellouts. None of those things matter. It's the fans that do, they are terrific, loyal and they know it's our club despite what nine million pieces of papers might otherwise prove.

West Ham: Green, Pantsil (Solano 78 min), Tomkins, Neill, McCartney, Faubert, Noble, Parker, Ljungberg, Sears (Cole 73 min), Zamora.

Derby: Carroll 6, Todd 5 (McEveley 5 82 min), Leacock 5, Stubbs 6, Lewis 6, Mears 7, Ghaly 8, Savage 6, Jones 6 (Villa 5 74 min), Sterjovski 5, Miller 5.

Referee: S Tanner.

Attendance: 34,612.

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