Hat-trick hero on ‘perfect’ end to Forest game...
SADDLERS hotshot, Tom Bradshaw, was quick to share the praise amongst his teammates after netting a first senior career hat trick against Nottingham Forest.
The 23-year old fired in a stoppage time penalty to book the Saddlers place in the second round of the Capital One Cup but was eager to pay tribute to the rest of the squad.
“I think we all thought once they got the equaliser we were heading into extra time,” admitted Bradshaw. “But that shows the character that we’ve got in this group.
“Antonio picks up the ball and sticks one in the top bin from thirty-five yards so there’s not much we could have done about that.
“But even after it went to 3-3 we had enough in us to go again and create one last chance to get the winner.
“All the lads are buzzing, me more than most!
“My dad and a couple of my uncles were in the crowd and I’m sure they enjoyed that one.
“It was a special moment for myself and for my family but it’s great for the club to be in the second round.”
The game looked to be heading into extra time at the City Ground before Bradshaw took a tumble under a challenge from Reds skipper Kelvin Wilson.
Last years 20-goal marksman got up to dispatch the spot kick with 30 seconds left to play.
“I had been practising my penalties so I knew exactly where I was going to put it,” he explained. “It was just a case of making sure I made clean contact on the ball.
“It couldn’t have been a better finish to a game of football.
“We’ve created a lot more chances already in our games this season. It’s down to the way the boys want to play and how many attacking players we have in the squad.
“To come here and score four against a good Championship side shows our intent for the rest of the season.
“Personally, my first target is still to get to five goals, once I get to five I’ll take it from there but it’s a good start that’s for sure.”