Tom Huddlestone was candid enough to admit he should have scored his first Derby County goal at the weekend.
Derby ran out 3-0 winners at Birmingham City on Saturday to further cement their grip on second spot in the Sky Bet Championship.
Johnny Russell, Matej Vydra and Andreas Weimann were all on target in the West Midlands - and Huddlestone’s name should have been on the scoresheet as well.
He found time and space in the box to get a shot away with his less-favoured left foot, but he couldn’t get a clean connection on his effort and David Stockdale in the Blues’ goal denied him.
The Academy graduate has made 122 appearances for the Rams across two separate spells, but he’s still waiting for his first goal in a Derby shirt.
The 31-year-old, who returned to the club where he began his career in the summer from Hull City, joked after the game that he’s costing his friends money by not finding the back of the net.
He told the media after the win at St Andrew’s: “I saw a big gap in front of me and I felt it was a simple shot for me.
“I just didn’t catch it properly and, you know, in training they probably go in for me nine times out of ten, with either foot!
“My mates quite regularly text me before matches saying they’ve had me down to score at any time.
“I think I’m in debt to them this season; but hopefully I break the duck sooner rather than later.”
Huddlestone has made 27 appearances in all competitions for Derby this season in the holding midfield position.
He has missed one just Championship fixture, which was the 1-0 win over Burton Albion last month when he was an unused substitute.
