No heart and no hiding place for for Jewell

When Stiliyan Petrov — a midfielder so low on confidence he was recently dropped for five games — feels bold enough to chest down your goalkeeper's limp clearance and plant the ball into the top corner with his wrong foot from 45 yards, you know it's time to pack your bags and disappear quietly through the trapdoor.

Unfortunately, Derby cannot do that. There are still four games left. Four games, optimists might say, to gather a total of more than 15 points and avoid being officially labelled the worst team in Barclays Premier League history.

Four games, others might point out, to suffer yet more ritual humiliation. Next up at Pride Park in a fortnight? Arsenal. The prospect of facing Arsene Wenger's musketeers should have Jewell reaching for anti-depressants.

All credit to Jewell for continuing to come out and discuss his team's failings, even if they sometimes defy words. But he is a proud man and this is hurting — all the more so because Derby's fans are taking it in such good heart. In the absence of any goals they launch into mock celebration anyway. On Saturday, they greeted Aston Villa's fourth with a Mexican wave.

Jewell said: "I try to sneak out of the back door because I am hugely embarrassed, but I am not going to hide behind the team. I think this team would struggle in the Championship. As much as results like this hurt, they just make me more determined to get the right people in and fight like a tiger to bring this club back up next season."

It does not augur well that Roy Carroll, one of the experienced players Jewell has signed, let him down most on this occasion.

Having flapped at Ashley Young's free-kick under pressure from Olof Mellberg to gift Villa the first of two goals in as many minutes and wreck Derby's bright start, the former Manchester United goalkeeper was left even more red-faced by Petrov's sublime strike.

Without a goal in a year and heckled on occasions by some Villa fans, Petrov was taken out of the firing line by Martin O'Neill. Even Villa's boss was surprised the Bulgarian had the confidence to take the shot on.

"I know David Beckham scored from there," said Petrov. "I think his was better, but it is harder to hit a half-volley. I'm right-footed but after this I don't think so! It was the best goal I've ever scored, maybe goal of the season."

Carroll must have felt like giving up when a clearly offside Gabriel Agbonlahor not only impeded him but also got a slight touch to John Carew's low shot for Villa's second.

"I have to claim it as mine," said Carew. "If Gabby tries to claim it then I'll tell him he was offside."

The keeper was also unlucky to see his smart save from Agbonlahor present Gareth Barry with an open goal as Villa continued in the same fashion in the second half, but he should have kept out Agbonlahor's angled shot before substitute Marlon Harewood beat him from a similar position.

It was Derby's heaviest home defeat in 17 years and the third time this season they have shipped six goals. "It's not as if it's a one-off," lamented Jewell.

"You can't put heart into players. I had an "over my dead body" mentality at Bradford and Wigan, but we don't have that."

While Villa prepare for a more competitive derby at home to Birmingham on Sunday and the task of taking the chase for fifth place right to the wire, Jewell and his players just want it all to end. 'It hurts,' said striker Emanuel Villa. 'I feel powerless because the fans are bringing so much to us and we hope to give them something to cheer about next season.' Until then, the pain goes on.