3/1 To Win
When you think of Derby County’s finest hours against Nottingham Forest in recent years, what do you think of?
Naturally, there is the 5-0 win at Pride Park Stadium in 2014, Craig Bryson’s passionate celebrations in the back of the hosts’ net at the City Ground in 2012 and Matej Vydra’s strike within 24 sweet seconds, but where does Jeff Hendrick’s winner in 2011 sit in and around that.
The context of the game itself was truly special, as though it was cutely scripted for such a moment.
I’m sure we don’t have to remind you, but we will anyway!
So, picture this. Derby are trailing by a goal and a man down after just five minutes – it looks bleak on derby day for the Rams, but somehow, they rallied to take the game by scruff of the neck.
Jamie Ward levelled matters with a finish at the near post from a tight angle and into the second half it was one-way traffic, all Derby, Derby, Derby, could they make the most of it?
Experiencing his first taste of the full-blooded affair was a 19-year-old Hendrick and it looked like his and the Rams’ big moment had been and gone in the blink of the eye as he headed over the crossbar from point blank range – described as a ‘real low’ by the Irish midfielder.
Moments later, however, came the ‘unbelievable high’ as he struck a controlled finish beyond Lee Camp and into the bottom corner. Better yet, it was in front of the packed out away fans who had entered pandemonium.
Ask Hendrick today what his favourite Derby goal was and it will take him right back to that moment!
“It came early on in my time in the first team and it was such a big thing for me to do,” he told dcfc.co.uk.
“It was the first time I had played in a derby and the buzz around the stadium.
“We went a goal and a man down very early on and everything that was involved in that game just made it for me.
“I’d missed the header a couple of minutes before the goal and that was a real low point for me and to go from that to the unbelievable high was unreal.
“Whenever people ask me what my favourite goal was for Derby, it is that one! I won Goal of the Season twice at the club – and that one didn’t win – but it’s without a doubt my favourite.”
Where does Hendrick’s finish rank with you amongst our finest moments against Forest in recent history? Join the conversation now on Twitter by tweeting us at @dcfcofficial.
