Paul Jewell has confessed he's not a big fan of reserve league fixtures.

As Premier League club the Rams currently have no option but to field a reserve team in the Barclays Premier Reserve League (south section) and this evening face a long trip to play Reading at the home of Aldershot FC.

"I don't know how beneficial reserve team games are to be absolutely honest," the Derby manager told RamsWorld.

"A lot of clubs play their youth or academy teams in the reserves. Sometimes we would be better off organising behind-closed-doors games at our own convenience.

"This afternoon we have a journey of up to three hours to Aldershot to play a game which isn't ideal and there are plenty of teams locally - and we have spoken about this many times as coaches and managers - within an hour or an hour-and-a-half where we could organise games between ourselves to suit rather than playing games simply to fulfil fixtures."

Before this season's promotion to the Premier League - and before Jewell's arrival as manager - Derby County had opted out of reserve league football, preferring to stage behind-closed-doors friendlies.

This time around, the Rams reserve sides have largely featured up-and-coming youngsters, but the team is yet to win this season in nine matches that have included 8-0 and 6-0 drubbings at the hands of West Ham and Aston Villa.

The next home reserve fixture is this coming Monday, February 18, at Burton Albion's Pirelli Stadium against Birmingham City, kick-off 7pm.

Meet Sav, the gaffer and Tito at shopDCFC on Tuesday February 19!