Huddersfield Town midfielder Conor Coady admitted his winner at Wigan Athletic was really intended as a cross.
And the lifelong St Helens supporter said scoring at the ground of arch rugby league rivals Wigan Warriors made his strike even more special!
The curling 82nd-minute clincher was the former Liverpool player’s third goal for Town and eighth in senior football after five while on loan at Sheffield United last season.
All three of his Town strikes have come away from home, the others in the 3-1 win at Wolves on October 1 and the 2-2 draw at Rotherham United on Boxing Day.
“I’m thrilled with the goal, but it was a cross,” confessed the 21-year-old. “Nahki Wells played it to me, I had a look up and saw a couple of our lads and aimed for them.
“I thought if I could put it in with a bit of spin and pace it might cause a bit of trouble.
“It ended up causing a bit more trouble than I thought!”
It was Town’s first away win in nine attempts, the last coming at Wolves.
And it lifted Town up to 15th in the Championship.
“I’m made up to have got the winner, but it was a big team effort,” continued Coady.
“I think we have built a bit of momentum over recent weeks.
“Even when we lost at Middlesbrough, we thought we should have got something out of it.
“It was tough to get the ball down on a bobbly pitch, so it was a bit of a fight, but we deserved the win.”
Coady hailed both debutant midfielder David Edgar and striker James Vaughan, who made a surprise appearance wearing a mask to protect the facial injury which was initially expected to sideline him for six weeks at least.
“David has had a good career, and we knew what he would bring,” said Coady. “He broke up play, was strong in the tackle and won headers.
“We were all a bit shocked to see Vaughany at training on Friday.
“He said he was giving his face mask a run-out, and it was no surprise that he wanted to be involved because he’s a fighter.
“He always goes for every ball, and to have him back was a real boost.”
