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Jewell lauds "courageous" Derby

03/12/2008

Manager Paul Jewell acclaimed the "courage and guts" of his Derby County side as they saw off Premier League Stoke City to reach the Carling Cup semi-finals.

The Rams snatched a late winner from the penalty spot after Andy Griffin was adjudged to have handled in the area as the game entered injury time, allowing Nathan Ellington to coolly slot home.

And Jewell, who was manager of Derby last season as they were relegated from the top flight with a record low points total, said the game showed his side's battling qualities.

"It was a great victory for us. Stoke is a tough place to go to, as Arsenal, Tottenham and Aston Villa have found out," he said.

"We had to fight and we had to scrap. But the lads showed courage and guts and that's what got us through.

"Stoke don't get enough credit for the quality of players they've got. They're a good team and we had to match them physically and mentally."

Derby's win puts them in the last four of the League Cup for the first time in 40 years.

But despite other sides progressing at the expense of top-flight sides playing weakened teams, Jewell claimed his men had done it the hard way.

"Stoke showed us respect by playing most of their big-hitters," the manager continued.

"It was then an examination of character after our last three away games, which were all defeats, and we passed that test."