Rotherham United: ‘I didn’t know how to celebrate’ admits Wes Harding
AS far as Wes Harding is concerned, the training ground jibes are now over.
The Rotherham United defender did not just score his maiden strike in a Millers jersey on Tuesday night – halfway through his second season at the club – but the first goal of a professional career which has also taken in a five-year spell at Birmingham City.
At the age of 25, the goal has been a fair while coming for Harding, who scored a sweetly-taken early opener in the Millers’ Papa John’s Trophy quarter-final draw with Cambridge United – with Paul Warne’s side progressing in a penalty shoot-out for the second round running.
On his scoring famine ahead of the game, Harding observed: “I’ve had a bit of banter, but it’s been light-hearted. It’s in training and they say: ‘Have you scored?’ One time Smudge (Michael Smith) asked me and he thought I had already scored. I hadn’t, so it’s nice. I was buzzing with it.
“I just tried to strike it clean. It was nice work from Will (Grigg) to slide me in. To be honest, I didn’t really know how to celebrate. I’ve only ever scored in training before.
“I don’t really feel under pressure to score as I am a defender and being wide, I like whipping it in. But it is lovely to score.”
Millers chief Warne revealed that he was going to buy Harding a celebratory cake in homage to his goal.
Champagne corks will be popped to herald reaching a final at Wembley if Rotherham prevail in their last-four tie. The draw is on Saturday.
Harding added: “I have never played at Wembley, so it would be exciting. I just want to get there now, it’s one game away. I vaguely remember going once. I don’t know if it was a tour as a child or something. I have definitely been there, but not for a game.”