Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
I forgot that I was on 299!
JERMAIN SURPRISE AS HE BLASTS 300TH CLUB GOAL
JERMAIN DEFOE revealed how forgetting he was on the verge of his 300th club goal helped him notch the landmark strike in yesterday’s win over Livingston.
The 38-year-old frontman’s milestone helped send Rangers six points clear at the top of the Premiership after Joe Aribo’s opener at Ibrox.
Ge r s b o ss S t e v e n Gerrard handed Defoe his first start of the season and the former England striker repaid his gaffer in the win that increased the gap at the top over rivals Celtic who slipped up with at Pittodrie.
Defoe’s first club goal came for West Ham 20 years ago and after the evergreen poacher hit 300 he said: “I’ve been thinking about it for a while but I forgot about it before the game which is a good thing.
“I enjoyed it as you could see from the celebration. It’s always nice to score goals but to score my 300th like I did I really enjoyed it.”
Defoe’s goal was a sublime first-time strike and he said: “Me and James Tavernier have spoken about it and a g a i n s t Mo t h e r w e l l th ere was a simi l ar movement where I tried to draw the defender in to spin in behind and I had the volley and the keeper made a good save.
“We looked at it on a video and Tav’s got that range of passing. It’s important as a forward player your movement is good and you know you’re going to get in and it was an unbelievable pass.
“It was inviting and as soon as it came over the top I thought, ‘ I have to hit this first time’ but I tried to stay really relaxed with the finish and
I ma d e p e r f e c t contact. When it went in I was delighted.”
Defoe had a hamstring injur y during pre-season and Gerrard revealed before the game the veteran forward has been angry at n o t gettin g more chances to start.
He added: “I was raring to go and prepared wel l for the game. I knew when you get a chance you have to take it.”