Family there to see Lee hit debut winner
IT was a dream debut for Lee Buchanan as he fired Derby County to victory over Scunthorpe United in the Carabao Cup.
The 18-year-old defender was handed his first senior appearance for the Rams in Tuesday night’s first round tie at Glanford Park.
The Academy graduate, who hails from Mansfield, lined up at left-back for Phillip Cocu’s men - and turned out to be the unlikely match-winner.
With the tie goalless and 12 minutes away from a penalty shoot-out, Buchanan landed the decisive blow - to set up a trip to face arch rivals Nottingham Forest in the next round.
Picked out in space on the left by George Evans, he chested the ball down and surged into the area before firing a superb angled drive across keeper Rory Watson and into the far corner of the net.
“It’s a moment you a dream of,” said Buchanan. “That’s what you want, as a young lad.
“To make your debut is obviously what you want - but to score a goal was even better.
“I thought we dominated in the second half and I thought the goal was coming. It was just a matter of time.
“I’m not too sure what I was doing up there - but it was a great ball.
“I couldn’t see too many people in the box, so I thought I might as well have a strike.
“I think the touch really made the goal. It was a good touch, so it sat up nicely.
“I just looked up and saw it hit the net. That was it - I went off celebrating. It was a good feeling.”
It is fair to say Buchanan is not known for his goal scoring.
“As a defender, you’re not expecting to score the winning goal - but the opportunity was there for me to go ahead, because we were secure at the back,” he said. “So I made a run and, thankfully, I scored.
“I haven’t scored many goals. That was probably my first, or maybe second.
“That celebration was just off the cuff!”
Buchanan’s goal came in front of 1,680 travelling Derby fans, including proud members of his own family.
“My mum, dad, brother and sister all came to watch,” said the teenager. “They were in the away end.
“I didn’t see them - too many people!”