Derby have now only won once in twenty attempts this Premier League campaign as they slumped 2-1 at home to Blackburn.

The basement club even took the lead through Matt Oakley on his 250th Premier League appearance and then paid the price for Steve Howard's weak penalty which allowed Brad Friedel to save.

Blackburn, who had looked the likelier of the two teams to score until Oakley's strike, then struck twice just before half time.

First, in-form striker Roque Santa Cruz reacted quickest after Benni McCarthy's effort had been parried by Rams keeper Lewis Price, then David Bentley curled in a shot from 25 yards.

Derby have now lost their last six home League games and look destined for a quick return to the Championship.

Paul Jewell, the Derby boss, was understandably downbeat with the result and for what the future holds.

"We're not good enough, it's as simple as that," he said. "The way we are at the moment, bottom of the league, don't score goals, concede unbelievably bad goals, and you get punished in this league.

"Some of the things that go on the pitch among this group of players just beggars belief at times. The sooner we can try and get some people in here to try and eradicate that, or certainly improve on what we've got, the better team we'll be."

Asked whether he was angry with the performance, he replied: "Wouldn't you be? 30,000 people here, terrific support the players get.

"As soon as we missed the penalty, their heads went down. You could write the script 30 seconds later. It's a catalogue of mistakes, one after the other. But I'm still up for the fight."