RAMS ON THE UP - JEWELL

Jewell - pleased with progress,

Derby manager Paul Jewell is confident his team is making progress after they held unbeaten Cardiff to a 1-1 draw at Pride Park.

Jewell has watched his side take five points from three matches in a week and believes there is a growing confidence in the dressing room that is starting to bear fruit on the pitch.

"We didn't play well today but we have got something out of the game," he said.

"We would definitely have lost a month ago, we would have fallen to pieces when they equalised but there is a lot more resolve and desire in the team now.

"Determination has got to come first and I am pleased that we have shown that.

"We have been average in the last two matches but we have not been beaten and that's what we need at this stage.

"It's going to take a few more results for us to relax completely and play the football that I know we are capable of.

"It's going to be a long road and if I feel that if we are going to get it right it's not going to happen overnight."

Cardiff manager Dave Jones was disappointed his side did not emerge as winners even though they had to shake off the body blow of falling behind to a disputed goal.

Steve McPhail appeared to be fouled in the lead up to Derby's 29th-minute opener but Jones said: "We've got this thing in football now where we have to be respectful so I will be respectful.

"But we were still arguing about it and lost our concentration at the corner.

"All the talk at half-time in the camp was about pride and passion and keeping the unbeaten run going.

"In the second half it was a matter of keep driving at them and we did that.

"We dominated the game and although we could have been more clinical in front of goal we played some fantastic football from start to finish.

"It was two points dropped with the amount of possession we had but we didn't defend the corner properly for the goal."

Jones also made a case for a second penalty when Eddie Johnson went down under a challenge from Martin Albrechtsen eight minutes from time.

But that would have been hard on Derby, who had taken the lead when Albrechtsen scored only his fifth goal in English football.

After Emanuel Villa had won that controversial corner, Nacer Barazite floated the ball to the near post where Villa flicked it on and Albrechtsen was unmarked to slam in his first goal for the club.

There were few clear-cut chances at either end but in the 68th minute a quick break by the visitors ended with Joe Ledley being brought down by Miles Addison and referee Mark Haywood immediately pointed to the spot.

Ross McCormack sent Roy Carroll the wrong way with his penalty to stretch Cardiff's unbeaten run to seven matches.