Sibley: “I Have Been Dreaming About That Moment For A Long Time”

As a youngster Louie Sibley dreamed of scoring for Derby County, the club he grew up supporting.

It’s something which he would have played in his mind repeatedly but in his wildest dreams, he wouldn’t have imagined it going better than it actually did.

When the Academy graduate received the ball from Martyn Waghorn at Pride Park Stadium on Sunday afternoon, there was nothing clearer in his mind. He took a touch and unleashed an unstoppable effort which flew into the top corner.

It set the Rams on their way as a brace from Chris Martin, one a penalty, secured Derby a convincing 3-0 home victory over Blackburn Rovers.

It was some strike for an 18-year-old making his full league debut, showing no nerves or fears and he admitted it was a moment he had dreamt of since a very young age.

He is now the fourth recent Academy product to have scored for the first-team this season, following in the footsteps of Jayden Bogle, Jason Knight and Lee Buchanan.

“Before the game, I knew I was starting and it was another opportunity for me and I feel like when I step on the pitch I am going to try my hardest and keep proving that I can step up,” he told RamsTV.

“It was a dream come true to get that goal. I have been dreaming about that moment for a long time now and to finally do it, I showed in my celebration how much it means to me. I couldn’t stop smiling afterwards and it is a dream come true.

“It was great work from Waggy, great passes before actually, and then Waggy found me. I thought ‘why not’ and luckily it went into the top corner.

“I feel that one of my qualities is to strike the ball from outside the box and I’m going to keep doing that every time I play and hopefully more goals will come.”

Sibley’s strike put the Rams ahead against Blackburn and that lead was doubled before half time through Martin’s first goal of the game.

He reacted quickest to Graeme Shinnie’s effort, which was pushed away by Blackburn goalkeeper Christian Walton, to put Derby two goals ahead.

Blackburn came back into the game in the second half but were unable to find a way past a stubborn Rams defence, and they made them pay in the final 10 minutes as Martin added his second of the game from the penalty spot, as Jason Knight was fouled in the area.

The visitors were reduced to 10-men in the final minute of the game as John Buckley was dismissed for a late challenge on Curtis Davies.

And Sibley praised the team’s resilience following the game as they continued their progression up the Sky Bet Championship table.

“In every game we just want to keep playing and today the whole team was outstanding, especially in the first half,” he said.

“We controlled the game, from the back four through to the midfield, and the front three were brilliant as well. It was a great team performance.

"We should have been more clinical to see the game out easier but I thought, especially in the first half, that we were outstanding.

“We created so many chances and could have seen the game out better, but we got the win.”

But one thing is for certain tonight.

“I’m buzzing to sit down with my family tonight and watch the highlights and my goal,” Sibley admitted.