MATCH FACT IT’S KING LOUIE Hat-trick for Derby’s teenage star
■ Derby’s Louie Sibley (18y 281d) is the youngest player to score a hat-trick in the top four tiers since Nov 2017, when Fulham’s Ryan Sessegnon did so against Sheffield United (17y 187d).
TEEN sensation Louie Sibley claimed a stunning first senior hat-trick to inspire Derby’s comeback win.
When Matt Smith headed Millwall ahead in typical fashion on 15 minutes, former Rams boss Gary Rowett must have thought he was on a winner,
But that was the prelude to the Sibley show in only his second Championship start.
Derby manager Phillip Cocu said: “Louie scored three great quality goals, and played a very complete game in his position. So when we didn’t have possession he does his job and works well for the team.
“I was very pleased with his performance today.
“Apart from the football we played, we showed mentally we are a strong side and we have confidence in our way of playing.
“We know we can score and today, the first time they came close to our goal they scored and that is hard after the way we dominated. In some parts of the season we struggled with that.
“We have improved that and confidence is high.”
Millwall gaffer Rowett said: “We started OK and scored with a very good goal – then after that we conceded very poor goals.
“They were very well taken by Sibley and I’m sure Derby are delighted with him.
“Defensively we were just a bit too passive.”
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MILLWALL front of two men and a dog as a full house at Wembley. England’s record goalscorer put on an exhibition of one-touch passing while Rowett’s side sat deep waiting to pounce on the break.
They did just that when Shane Ferguson’s teasing left-foot cross fell perfectly for Smith to bullet his header past Ben Hamer.
But it was all square when Jayden Bogle played the ball in to 18-year-old Sibley, who jinked past two defenders before firing a left-foot shot into the roof of the net.
Bartosz Bialkowski denied Sibley a sensational second after he beat three Millwall defenders.
Smith should have restored the Lions’ lead just after the break but scooped his shot over.
Sibley blazed over after leaving Shaun Hutchinson for dead again, then tried to chip the keeper from 40 yards.
But when the game ticked into the 71st min- ute he was deadly in slotting away Martyn Waghorn’s pass.
And Sibley produced a repeat performance when teed up by sub Chris Martin at the death.
There was a late scare for Derby when sub Jon Dadi Bodvarsson fired in off the underside of the bar – but this was Sibley’s day.
DERBY