Jewell is still looking for his elusive first victory since becoming manager in November after County began the new campaign with a 1-0 home defeat to newly-promoted Doncaster.

The Rams had the indignity of being relegated from the Barclays Premier League with an all-time low points total of 11 and a record number of 29 defeats.

Derby won only one game in the top flight and it came against Newcastle at Pride Park in September when Billy Davies was boss.

Jewell made wholesale changes to his squad over the summer and handed debuts to seven of his 13 signings against Rovers.

Only Roy Carroll and Tyrone Mears survived from the starting XI that finished last season with a miserable 4-0 home defeat to Reading.

Jewell had wanted to rid the club of its "losing mentality" following last season, but Derby looked as disjointed as ever at times, particularly after falling behind.

But the Derby boss believes a win would transform the club's fortunes and banish some painful memories.

"Last season will continue to loom large over us until we win a game. People won't forget it until that happens," said Jewell.

"I think it is fair to say we looked like a team with seven new signings. As a team I think Doncaster were more comfortable playing with each other.

"With seven debutants you are lucky if everything goes to plan, but that is taking nothing away from Doncaster.

"I am aware that we need to gel pretty quickly. There are games, a lot of games, that we can win this season. Not like last season when the feeling was we were going to be beaten.

"We just need one and I think we will go on a decent run, but talking about it and doing it are two different things."

Jewell added: "People think we should be doing better, and we should.

"We will but it will take time. It is one game we have had and there are 45 left.

"If we lose our heads and start moping around the place we will be in trouble, but that won't happen.

"You could sense the nervousness around the stadium in the fans. The players looked edgy despite there being seven new ones because everyone is aware of what happened last season.

"The only way we are going to get rid of that is by winning a match.

"I understand there is going to be a reaction but we won't panic because I know we will get better."

Doncaster manager Sean O'Driscoll refused to get carried away despite his side's winning start on Rovers' return to the second tier after a 50-year absence.

O'Driscoll was content with his team's overall performance in their opening game but believes there is plenty of room for improvement, particularly where ball retention is concerned.

"I would call it a good start after 10 games, not after 90 minutes," said O'Driscoll.

"It was a good performance, which is what we wanted to do. We got our noses in front and we defended manfully at times and I was pleased with the attitude and the way they handled the occasion. I just hope we have got another 45 of those to come.

"We had some good possession, which isn't easy to get in this division, but when we did get it I thought we were a threat. And when we didn't have possession I thought we defended sensibly.

"There are any number of games in the Championship that can go either way and I am sure we will play better than that this season and lose.

"It will be a test when we come up against teams who are more physical than Derby and when we have to keep good possession.

"At time we didn't do that. I think out goalkeeper must have cleared the ball about 40 times, which just gives the opposition the ball back more times than not.

"But the players are up for the challenge because they all think they are Championship players."