THANK GODD

Matty relieved not to be in a spot of bother once more

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BY

MATTY GODDEN admits he feared being tagged as a diver by referees following a two-match ban for simulation.

The Coventry striker was suspended by the FA after being awarded a penalty in a 4-1 thrashing of Fulham.

Godden returned on Saturday and was relieved when Lee Buchanan brought him down and official Dean Whitestone did not hesitate to point to the spot.

Godden (above), who went on to convert the penalty , confessed: “You can hear there’s clear connect and I’ve gone down because of the contact. But in the back of my mind I’m thinking, ‘Oh no, if he doesn’t give this, I’m in a lot of trouble’.

“It still runs through your mind. You think, ‘What’s going to happen here’ but luckily you can hear the contact on my shin pad that he takes me out, and he knows.” Talking about the penalty which led to his ban, Godden added: “To say I was disappointed is an understatement.

“There’s nothing I could have really done at the time other than clatter him and risk injuring myself and him. The referee made the decision to point to the penalty spot which I was kind of surprised at.”

Godden has been part of the Mark Robins journey for two years and last week signed a three-year contract. He said: “The gaffer mentioned it, probably back in the summer, and we got the call to get it sorted. It didn’t take long at all.

“You are in the wrong sport and the wrong business if you don’t want to succeed as players. You are going to go nowhere. You have to try to look to the top and the promised land.” Godden’s goal was cancelled out in the second half by Graeme Shinnie (left), bringing an end to a run of six home wins, but it was Derby’s old stagers who impressed.

Central defenders Phil Jagielka and Curtis Davies have a combined age of 75 but are rolling back the years for the Rams.

Assistant manager Liam Rosenior revealed: “Curtis signed an insurance waiver to keep us up last year to be a part of the group and the least he deserved was to be a part of the group again this year.

“What they have is class. Their positioning is outstanding and they have been a huge part of our defensive record this year.

“I just hope we can keep them fit for as long as possible because when they are in the team I am never nervous.”