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Derby County striker Patrick Agyemang said an early second-half miss at an open goal left him upset, but he regrouped and headed the 87th-minute winner in a 1-0 win over Preston North End. The 25-year-old, in his first season outside his home country, told BBC Radio Derby the backing of team-mates and travelling fans helped him stay positive.
Patrick Agyemang recovers from open-goal miss to win it for Derby
Patrick Agyemang admitted he was “upset” after missing an open goal in Derby County’s 1-0 win over Preston North End, but said the mistake did not prevent him from taking a later chance to decide the game. The American struck the winner with a header in the 87th minute to settle the contest.
The miss came early in the second half when Ben Brereton-Diaz delivered a low cross that took Preston goalkeeper Jack Walton largely out of the picture. From close range, Agyemang lifted the ball over the bar. He later found himself in a similar position, and this time made the difference by directing a header home late on.
“I was a little upset with the first one but sometimes that happens,” Agyemang told BBC Radio Derby. He added that strikers have to move on quickly, saying he could not get the chance back and relied on team-mates urging him on with “next one, next one, next one” as Derby continued to create opportunities.
Agyemang, who is playing in his first season outside of his home country, said the Christmas period had been “difficult,” but credited Derby’s travelling support for lifting him. The USA international said the reaction to his goal felt “amazing,” adding: “The boys were buzzing, everybody was buzzing for me. It was like a dream.”
