Older supporters of Stoke City know how it feels - and will be warning their children before their likely venture into the Barclays Premier League. Fans of Sunderland achieved the dubious honour twice within three years. And the late followers of Loughborough FC have been turning in the soil as they have seen their own records fall into grave danger.

Defeat away to Blackburn Rovers on Saturday, after Monday's 6-2 annihilation by Arsenal, would confirm Derby County as the worst team in the history of the Premier League, with fewer points than the 15 that Sunderland amassed under Mick McCarthy two years ago. That broke Sunderland's own record from 2002-03, when, in totting up 19 points, they also scored the lowest number of goals by a team in the Premier League. Derby, having hot-footed it to 19 goals with the efforts from Jay McEveley and Robert Earnshaw at Pride Park this week, need three more against Blackburn and Reading to overtake the 21 Sunderland scored five years ago.

As Stoke prepare to return to the top flight, requiring a point at home to Leicester City on Sunday to guarantee promotion from the Coca-Cola Championship, there will be those in the Potteries ominously recalling their last experience in such elevated company. Bill Asprey's team were relegated from the old first division with 17 points from 42 games in 1985, a top-flight record until Sunderland's new depths. Stoke's goal difference was minus 67 as they conceded 91 goals.

The Loughborough team of 1899-1900 could yet stand alone, however, when it comes to assessing records for all divisions. Not only did they tot up a mere eight points from their 34 games in division two - a nadir Doncaster Rovers managed to equal five years later - they also mustered only 18 league goals that season. Mind you, Derby have scored their 19 from 36 league games, so they are both averaging 0.53 goals per game.

Jewell took charge of Derby in November with relegation looking likely. Their only Premier League victory to date this season came when Billy Davies was in charge, against Newcastle United on September 17, when Kenny Miller scored the only goal. Should they fall short of victory at Ewood Park on Saturday, that will be 31 games without a win, equalling the league record of Cambridge United in 1983-84.

Four times Derby have conceded six goals in a game this season and the only time Jewell has experienced victory was when Sheffield Wednesday were overcome in an FA Cup third-round replay - on penalties. Considering that Wednesday are a game away from losing their Championship status, that does not bode well for Jewell's envisaged renaissance.

“Our season cannot be judged against Arsenal, they are on a different level to us and when they play like they did in the second half, they are almost unplayable for the likes of us,” the former Bradford City and Wigan Athletic manager said. “We seem to concede soft goals every week and from unbelievable mistakes. We have to cut out the errors.

“We need major surgery and it has begun. We have not got enough men, not enough leaders that are going to dig us out of a hole. We have to change the mentality of the whole football club - not just the first team - the whole scenario and it is not going to be easy.

“We are not good enough for this level and we have to prove ourselves, me included, next season that we are good enough to get out of the Championship. I have done it twice before and I intend to do it again.”