He came up with big goals for Celtic in his Paradise playing days of the past – and it appears Patrick Roberts is at it again, this time for Derby County, as his goal has prevented the Pride Park side from entering the third tier of English Football for the first time since 1986.
Roberts, 24, joined Wayne Rooney’s side in the winter transfer market following unsuccessful stints at Middlesbrough earlier this term, alongside Norwich City and Girona also witnessing poor performances by the Englishman in his temporary moves around the continent. Amazingly, this was only his second league goal since leaving Celtic after his two-year loan spell in 2018; a sweet strike from the edge of the box which quickly turned a 1-0 deficit at half time on its head; a deficit which had them scrambling for survival, as a loss would have sealed their third tier fate.
However, Rams fans will not care one bit about the manner of his first league goal in Derby colours, as his howitzer from the edge of the box spared Derby of their season’s misfortune to leave Rooney and his men relieved from what could have been.