BRAD ALLL OVER

Tom opens his account - and then lifts the lid on his years of torment

IT’S hard to imagine anyone felt happier after Millwall’s comeback win than two-goal hero Tom Bradshaw.

Not even former Potters boss Gary Rowett, who was taunted from kick-off by the visiting fans until Bradshaw’s first league goals of the season shut them up.

Even an hour after the final whistle the 29-yearold, who has endured a tough time with injuries and form since joining from Barnsley in August 2018, wore a smile that beamed from ear to ear.

“That was good,” he said. “I really enjoyed that one.”

Days like these have been rare for Bradshaw, who suffered a seasonending knee ligament injury just 10 games into his Millwall career and who has started only 15 league games since the start of last season.

This was the striker’s first double for two years and he revealed his family’s support kept him going through the dark times. He said: “My dad has always been a massive supporter, he has always been there and my girlfriend and little one are at every game.

“They are supporting me through good times and bad, and it is nice to have that bounce board when times aren’t going so well. Football is all about belief and there are times, inevitably, when some fans do not believe in you as much as you believe in yourself. It is vital for any footballer to have that belief and support.”

That belief was tested at half-time when Millwall were booed off after Romaine Sawyers’ low left-foot strike from 18 yards had given Stoke a 20th-minute lead. But Bradshaw (above) had those fans off their feet when he converted Sheyi Ojo’s cross into the sixyard box on 51 minutes.

And the Den was rocking when he produced a carbon-copy finish 10 minutes later.

It condemned Michael O’Neill’s team to a third defeat of the week and the Potters boss is hoping Wednesday’s Carabao Cup clash with Premier League new boys Brentford can help his players get back on track.

He said: “When you are a Championship team you always look at the teams that get promoted. But we’re not benchmarking ourselves against Brentford, we have got to benchmark ourselves against where we were two or three weeks ago.

“We have to show the right characteristics to win games.”