Rams fans stay loyal despite looming threat of relegation

By NEIL MOXLEY

Last updated at 11:47 28 March 2008

Derby County may go down on Saturday - but the superb backing from the Pride Park supporters shows no signs of waning.

The sell-out signs are close to being put up again at the Rams' home, despite their quite dreadful record on their own patch.

Derby have not won a game in 25 outings - their last success came in mid-September with a 1-0 win over Newcastle United.

Fulham, without a win themselves on their travels this season, will be eyeing this fixture as the ideal opportunity to close the gap on their immediate relegation rivals.

But the club reported on Friday that just 70 tickets remain unsold - with up to 33,000 again expected to flock through the turnstiles.

Manager Paul Jewell said it could be one worth watching, too, as the Rams face the prospect of relegation.

Defeat to the Cottagers, allied to victories for either Birmingham City or Bolton Wanderers, will mean that the Rams make a swift return to the Championship.

Jewell said: "Fulham will see it as a must-win game and, if things go against us, it could be D-day as far as relegation goes."

"We don't want that to happen in front of our own fans if we can avoid it.

"We are capable of winning the game, so are Fulham, and so it can be a decent match for the supporters and, more importantly, we can come away with something."