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Search forJust one of those daze as Duke claims winner
Monday, October 06, 2008, 07:30
The striker pounced in the 85th minute after Norwich keeper David Marshall had inexplicably raced out of his goal to give the 10-men Rams an unlikely victory.
Ellington was brought on as a second-half substitute for midfielder Stephen Davies in a bold move by manager Paul Jewell after keeper Roy Carroll had been sent off.
And it paid off as the former Wigan Athletic man kept his cool to roll the ball into an unguarded net for his first Championship goal of the season.
However, Ellington revealed it took him a while to realise what had happened.
"I thought the defender or goalkeeper had got back and I didn't know whether it was a goal or not," he said.
"Nobody was celebrating or cheering and I was just looking around. I wasn't sure what happened.
"I was just sitting there on the floor. It was a bit weird but then suddenly everybody came and started celebrating.
"When I ran through, I thought it was a bit far out for the keeper to be coming and that I was going to get there first.
"I thought I needed to get to it and steer it towards goal before he could get back. Thankfully, it happened and we won the game."
Ellington, whose only previous goals this season came courtesy of a hat-trick in the Carling Cup win over Lincoln City, was surprised to see Marshall so far out of his goal.
"I couldn't understand it," he said. "It was like when you play a computer game and leave your finger on the button so that the keeper comes out!
"I couldn't believe I got to the ball. I thought I'd better shoot as quickly as possible and it trickled in."
Ellington hailed Derby's fighting spirit and Jewell's positive intent after Carroll's 50th-minute dismissal for a foul on Leroy Lita, which led to Sammy Clingan's equaliser from the penalty spot.
Clingan's penalty cancelled out Rob Hulse's first-half header but the visitors hit back to score a late goal, just as they had done to earn a point against Birmingham City in their previous game.
"We showed a lot of resolve," said Ellington. "After conceding a penalty and having a man sent off, we showed a lot of bravery to come back and win.
"I think we have showed our work rate and heart to come back in games when crazy things happen.
"Credit to all the lads, we showed our strength and fitness with 10 men.
"We kept the ball well at times and it paid off in the end.
"Our fitness is good and it shows we can go the distance and take advantage when teams start to tire."
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