You couldn’t wipe the smile off the face of Derby County Academy graduate Louie Sibley after he netted his first professional hat-trick at Millwall as the Sky Bet Championship season restarted on Saturday afternoon following a break due to the Coronavirus outbreak.
The 18-year-old, who had scored his first league goal back in March prior to the break in the season, firing home a 25-yard screamer against Blackburn Rovers, picked up where he left off as he inspired the Rams to all three points with a 3-2 victory at The Den to keep them in the hunt for a place in the play-off positions at the end of the season.
It didn’t start well for Phillip Cocu’s side as Matt Smith headed the hosts into an early lead, however, up stepped Sibley to turn the game on its head.
His first goal was superb. He took on the home defence, shifted his weight and found the top corner to draw Derby level.
Sibley's second came at a key point in the second half.
He capped off a wonderful team goal after being played through by Martyn Waghorn with a composed finish to put Derby ahead for the first time in the game.
This time, Craig Forsyth spotted the youngster free in the box and his scuffed finish found the bottom corner to secure a valuable three points for his side.
Despite Millwall pulling back a late goal to make it a nervy ending through Jon Dadi Bodvarsson, the day belonged to the youngster.
Sibley is one of many products from the Derby County Academy to shine this season, alongside the likes of Jayden Bogle, Max Bird, Max Lowe and Jason Knight.
Whilst he was delighted to notch his first professional hat-trick, Sibley is also keen to remain grounded and continue to work hard and improve his game.
“I’m absolutely buzzing,” he told RamsTV. “I just wanted to pick up from the last game I played back in March.
“I think I did well but I just want to keep going, keep playing and to get a hat-trick is unbelievable. It’s always been a dream of mine to get it and when the third goal went in it was an amazing feeling.
“I don’t think it will sink in. All my family are big Derby fans and they will all be texting me and ringing me; they will all be over the moon.”
The Rams dominated the game in large parts due to their possession-based football which was evident throughout the encounter.
They kept the ball well and split the Millwall defence open on a number of occasions with patient build up play and Sibley was keen to acknowledge that.
“All three goals were great team moves,” he said. “It was a great ball from Jayden Bogle for the first goal and I just made my way through the box and I was lucky it went into the top corner.
"Waggy set me up so well for the second and for the third goal, Fozzy put in a great ball and when that went in, I was absolutely buzzing.
“I didn’t make the best of contacts - I scuffed it - but I was buzzing. I have been patient for my opportunity and I just want to keep proving what I can do on the pitch.
“I am buzzing for the hat trick and performance but I need to go again. I need to keep playing, keep performing and keep going again.”
The away victory signalled a good start to the final run of games and the 18-year-old knows how important it is to back up the victory next week when Derby face Reading at Pride Park Stadium in their next fixture.
“It’s massive if we keep playing like we did today,” he commented. “We are aiming for the play-offs and that’s what we need to keep doing.
“We have just got to keep going, keep performing and with no fans, we need to make sure to keep going and you will never know where we will end up at the end of the season.”