Derby County’s 5-1 victory over Watford at the beginning of September was richly deserved but the fact that there were five different goalscorers was something of a rarity.
This has happened a few times with the aid of an own goal or a brace in recent times, which was the case the last time Derby hit five against Crystal Palace in September 2010. Two goals from Alberto Bueno as well as strikes from Paul Green, Shefki Kuqi and Kris Commons, handed all three points to Nigel Clough’s men.
The last time the Rams had five different scorers, you have to go back to November 1989 when they thrashed Manchester City 6-0 at the Baseball Ground. Dean Saunders netted two penalties, with Mark Wright, Trevor Hebberd, Paul Goddard, and Gary Micklewhite adding the other four goals.
Another game which included five goalscorers was achieved in a 7-0 home win over Lincoln City in November 1985, with Rob Hindmarch and Gary Micklewhite grabbing braces. Jeff Chandler, Bobby Davison and Andy Garner scored the other goals.
The last time five different players got on the scorehsheet away from home was back in the Old Third Division, in December 1984 at the Vetch Field against Swansea City. Bobby Davison, Kevin Wilson, Steve Buckley, Andy Garner and Charlie Palmer scored the five goals, in a 5-1 success.
Another memorable occasion when five players hit the net was back in November 1972, when a 5-0 demolition of Arsenal was covered by ITV. The Rams turned on a scintillating performance to be 4-0 ahead at the interval. The goals came from Roy McFarland, John McGovern, Kevin Hector, and Alan Hinton, to leave the Gunners wondering what had hit them. There was an early goal in the second half for Roger Davies, whose header registered his first League goal.
Before that, the Second Division promotion season, 1968-69, and the game which confirmed that promotion was another game which witnessed five different goalscorers. On 5th April 1969, the Rams defeated Bolton Wanderers 5-1 at the Baseball Ground. Roy McFarland scored the first, followed by John O’Hare, Kevin Hector, Willie Carlin and Frank Wignall.
Even further through the history books – when five goals have been scored it’s been an own goal which has added up the five different goalscorers. Not long after Kevin Hector had arrived the Rams entertained Millwall, in October 1966, Ron Webster, Ian Buxton, Billy Hodgson and Hector hit the net, with Millwall’s Jones adding the other goal.
There was another own goal in April 1963, when Scunthorpe United were thrashed 6-3 at the Baseball Ground. Bill Curry scored a brace, with Geoff Barrowcliffe adding a penalty, Ray Young and Barry Hutchinson adding further goals, with the own goal coming from United’s Jackie Brownsword.
In April 1957 the Rams thrashed neighbours Chesterfield 7-1, in a game where Barry Hutchinson scored for both teams. The Rams other scorers were Ray Straw with a hat-trick, Tommy Powell, Reg Ryan and Dennis Woodhead.
So those are just a few highlights from the previous nine occasions when there have been five different scorers.