Derby become worst relegated side

Derby County's attempt to change manager and attain more positive results last season faltered badly. The Rams had a very poor campaign and went down as the side with the worst showing since the start of the Premier League in 1992-93.

It was no shock when the board decided to sack Billy Davies in mid-November after Derby chalked up a single win from 14 league outings. Paul Jewell (ex-Wigan) took over from Davies but matters did not really change as the team could not add to the only win they had obtained earlier.

By March 2, Derby had eight matches still to play but their fate had already been sealed. Many had thought that Jewell could revise the club's fortunes but this never materialised as Derby became the whipping boys of the division.

They became the worst team to be demoted in Premier League history after 29 defeats in a season. The total of 11 points was also a new negative record. In 2006, Sunderland went down with 15 points.

On top of that, Derby's 11-point tally was the Football League's lowest since the introduction of three points for a victory. They had also equalled Loughborough's 108-year Football League record for winning just one game in an entire campaign.

Everton never hovered in the drop zone but they still failed to reach their goal, a place in the Champions League. Their dream was shattered once more and finally Everton had to contend with a final fifth place.

The fans had also hoped that their team could claim a trophy through the knock-out competitions, but Everton finished empty-handed.

Perhaps, the transfer of utility man James McFadden to Birmingham was one of the mistakes of the season as manager David Moyes went on to admit that the Scottish player's departure had hit the club's aspirations hard.

But the signing of Yakubu goes down as one of Moyes's shrewdest acquisitions since he took over at Goodison Park in March 2002.

Joleon Lescott also had a great campaign and, in addition to being picked by England, he found time to score vital goals despite playing in defence.

Mikel Arteta was at his best once more and Everton must hold tightly to the Spaniard in the pre-season transfer activities.

Everton's race for fourth place with neighbours Liverpool only faded in the last phase of the term and the double inflicted by the Reds continued to hamper their chances.

A final day victory against Newcastle ensured Moyes's men would have another year of UEFA Cup football.

Shoot-out exit

In the UEFA Cup, Everton registered some fine wins away from Goodison Park. It was only a penalty shoot-out exit against Fiorentina that ended the Blues' splendid run in the competition in the KO stages.

In the League Cup, Everton went as far as the semi-finals before they had to bow out to Chelsea, losing both at home and away.

The shock of the season for the Blues was the exit to lowly Oldham in the third round of the FA Cup, a 0-1 loss coming in front of their own fans.

Derby received major setbacks in the domestic cups. In the League Cup they lost at home to Blackpool 6-7 on penalties after a 2-2 draw. In the FA Cup, they went down heavily 1-4 to Preston at Pride Park in the fourth round.