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Le Tissier: target for Jewell?

The points total will tell you that Derby have been the worst team in Premier League history and you can't argue with that.

Matt Le Tissier
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• Blackburn Rovers
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Blackburn 3-1 Derby
Soccer Saturday analysis

Derby's defence couldn't be any worse, even if they had Matt Le Tissier in the back four.

That was the view of the Soccer Saturday pundit - who certainly wasn't well-known for his defensive capabilities during his playing career - after watching their 3-1 capitulation against Blackburn.

Roque Santa Cruz bagged a brace and Jason Roberts scored another, but Le Tissier says Rovers did not need to work hard for their victory against a "comedy" Derby back-line.

"I wouldn't have been out of place in the Derby defence today, even with my defensive skills," he told Soccer Saturday.

"In fairness the first half wasn't too bad, but the second was absolutely shocking. It was comedy defending and Paul Jewell has a lot of work to do before the start of next season.

"He's got to get some new players in. You could say it will be different in the Championship, but I think this season will mentally scar quite a few of those players.

"That's what it looked like today because it was absolutely abysmal. Blackburn didn't really get out of second gear to win 3-1."

Poor

Derby are rooted to the bottom with just 11 points, having conceded 85 goals, and Le Tissier says there is no disguising the fact that they are the worst team in the history of the Premier League.

"They are that bad," Le Tissier admitted.

"I've seen them quite a few times this year and I've witnessed a few of the drubbings and it has been poor.

"Roy Carroll was the man of the match today. He made three or four outstanding saves and they could quite easily have let in six again.

"This was against an end-of-season performance from Blackburn, who weren't really going for it.

"Roque Santa Cruz is finishing the season strongly and he looks a very good player, but the points total will tell you that Derby have been the worst team in Premier League history and you can't argue with that."

It wasn't just the defenders who came in for criticism from Le Tissier, who felt Robert Earnshaw and Robbie Savage did not live up to their reputations either.

He added: "Earnshaw didn't really contribute to the game. He's one of those guys that thinks he should be playing more and scoring goals, but on the performance today you can see why he's not a regular in the team.

"Robbie Savage worked his socks off in the middle of the park and tried to protect the two centre-halfs by sitting in front of them but even he realised there was nothing he could do after about an hour.

"They were that bad behind him that he stopped helping them out. It wasn't a great performance from Robbie."