THE Football League Show had an extra viewer on Saturday night as Michael Tonge resisted the urge to celebrate his wonder goal in style — instead tuning in to BBC One to see a replay of his 25-yard cracker.
Tonge, on loan at Derby County from Stoke City, lit up Pride Park with a stunning piece of skill, curling the ball in off the bar as the Rams went on to beat Watford 2-0.
And the 26-year-old — who had not hit the net since August 2008 — could not wait to see his goal again.
He said: “I hit it quite well fortunately — it just opened up on the edge of the box.
“I thought it had come out at first but I was glad to see it went in.
“I am delighted but more delighted with the fact we got three points.
“It's always good to score and Iʼve not scored for a while and it's nice to return myself to the scoresheet.
“I scored against Derby with my left foot and scored a couple of free-kicks. I am delighted with it.
“I've not seen it again and aren't sure how far out it was. I'll be tuning in to the Football League Show to watch it!”
And Tonge even pulled himself off his sickbed to play after coming down with a viral infection last week.
He said: “It started on Wednesday with a bit of a virus and a cold.
“I couldn't get warm. I felt really under the weather this morning too.
“But I am pleased to have played in the end! I went to see the doctor as I was worried about starting the match and then coming off after 20 minutes.
“It happened to Rob Hulse the other week and he scored against Preston.
“I started off and was coughing but once I got that goal it put some air in my lungs! A goal always helps.”
Tonge is now hoping Derby go on a run, starting away at Reading on Wednesday night, and lift themselves back into the top half of the table after recording their 10th home win of the season.
He said: “We need to look to the next few games and if we play like we have in the last couple we should be okay and pick up some points.
“Teams below us have won but that means teams above us haven't.
“We can pull away if we show the form we have in the last few games.
“Two wins in the next four games, and we can push on.
“We were massively disappointed after Swansea and West Brom and felt we didn't get what we deserved out of the games.”
JAVAN Vidal has returned early to Manchester City from his loan spell at Pride Park.
He made one substitute appearance for the Rams and the decision was made by mutual consent.