Post-Match Verdict: David McGoldrick Vs Bristol Rovers (H)

Derby County striker David McGoldrick scored his first career hat-trick in the 4-2 victory over Bristol Rovers on Saturday afternoon.

The frontman spoke to RamsTV following the Sky Bet League One game to give his reaction to the win and the performance from the lads on a hectic afternoon at Pride Park Stadium.

On his first career hat-trick...

I feel good. It’s perfect as a striker to win and score a hat-trick as well. We needed to get a win and I’m happy that I contributed towards it.

All strikers want to score. Everyone wants to retire and say they’ve scored a hat-trick and I’m no different. I’ve scored loads of braces. I’ve scored a brace before and hit the post and thought it was never going to come - but today to score it in the first-half as well with my kids being here, it’s a great feeling.

On his favourite goal out of the three…

I think the third one. When I nicked the ball, I drove into the box and the goalkeeper was hugging his near post. He didn’t want me to strike it and I bent it the only place it could go. To get that for the hat-trick too, it means more.

I spotted my little ones and they were clapping, waving and doing my celebration in the crowd so there’s no better feeling as a dad to have your kids see you score.

On the first-half…

It was crazy and sloppy at times too. Having them get the second goal in the last minute was frustrating and it gave them a bit of momentum. We aren’t making things easy for ourselves at the moment. Having said that, all we wanted to do was get the win today and we’ve managed to do that.

On the response from the draw with Exeter Tuesday…

Everyone was frustrated after Tuesday; the fans, the players and the staff. We had a big dressing room talk afterwards because it wasn’t acceptable. We could have been out there today from that game and it would still be 0-0.

We knew we had to be more aggressive going forwards, better at the back and we did it. We stood up to it today. We knew what we had to do and I think we did it. Everyone played their part.