Jewell calls for cool Rams
14 Dec 2007 - 08:51:17
Derby County boss Paul Jewell doesn't believe the Rams will be doomed should they lose to Middlesbrough on Saturday.
Jewell has urged his players not to be afraid of expressing themselves in the relegation showdown at Pride Park and doesn't want the game to be billed as a 'must win'.
The Rams are currently bottom of the table and eight points adrift of Boro in 16th spot.
"I think I've only been in five must-win games in my life - they are the last games of the season when there's nothing else you can do if you lose," he told the club's official website.
"It is a vital game for us, probably our most important game of the season, and to use the old cliche our season starts on Saturday.
"But if we win it doesn't mean that we are staying up, and if we lose it doesn't mean that we will be going down.
"I think you can put too much pressure on players. I have heard lots of managers say that games are must-win and if you lose, how must the players feel after that?
"It is a vital game and I will be desperate to win but if we don't then there is always another game next week.
"It's a game of huge importance and I don't want the players going in scared of losing, or even scared of winning."