Shaq Forde will not forget his celebrations after scoring Bristol Rovers fourth goal in their 4-0 triumph over Cheltenham Town for a very long time.
When a player celebrates with their manager after scoring, they will go racing towards the dugout for an unchallenged embrace. However, Saturday was very different.
The Pirates were three goals ahead thanks to a hat-trick from Ellis Harrison, and with five minutes left to play, Steve Evans marched towards the Thatchers End to enjoy the game with the Gasheads. So, when Forde finished from close range, he went to find his gaffer in what was a unique experience for everyone at The Memorial Stadium.
Speaking to BRTV after the fixture, Forde reflected on the moment. Additionally, he also talked about Harrison's impact on the team and the Gas' winning run.
Shaq, a thumping win at The Mem today, how do you reflect on it?
"I think it was a good win. I feel like the early goal helped us a lot, especially with the massive crowd today. I feel like that early goal just gave them that little extra lift.
"It was a big day for us, we had probably not as much control as we wanted in the first half, but I think the goals helped us, getting them at the right time, and I feel like we dominated the second half really, and it's good to get a goal as well and obviously see Ellis get his hat-trick."
You mention Ellis’ hat-trick. What does he bring to the team and also the dressing room?
"Ellis is probably one of the best players I've worked with. On and off the pitch, he is a really good guy. He gives everything for us all of the time, even when he was injured, he was still playing for us. Ellis is a really good guy, and we really love playing with each other."
It shows you can finish in different ways. Two headers and a spectacular way to finish it off...
"To be fair to him, I was going to start shouting when he didn’t pass it to me, but then I saw the goalkeeper and that he was off his line. It was a great finish, that last one. The two headers are just what Ellis is about. He gets in the right positions at the right times.
That third goal, as soon as he hit it, did it look like it was going in from your perspective?
"I could see it going in, straight away, as soon as he hit it. It was a great strike, and to be fair to him, he saw him off the line; it was a great finish.
And with five minutes left to play, you see your manager going into the Thatchers End as well. What was going through your head?
"Obviously, we saw it in the media throughout the week, so I said to one of the boys that if I score when he is there, that I am going to jump in, and then obviously I managed to score and I jumped in with him. I think it is good. Obviously, the gaffer has done a lot for us since coming in and really changed things around, and got the fans on side as well. I feel like he is just who he is."
It's a tidy finish from you from a narrow angle from close range as well.
"I feel a bit lucky. I went to header it and then just dropped a bit short, and I managed to get my knee on it. It was a good finish and then good celebrations after with everyone."
What has Steve done with you to help you out? He’s complimentary in the media, and surely in the dressing room as well. It feels like you are playing some of your best football in the blue-and-white quarters.
"As I said before, he has just given me the love that I needed and just told me to be free on the pitch and express myself. As I said before, he is just giving me the license to basically just have fun on the pitch and start enjoying my football again."
Plenty of games have been played this season, but eight wins on the bat is something no other team in the EFL can say this season. It almost feels like you want this season to keep going and see what you can achieve.
"Yeah, exactly. We are almost not wanting this season to end next week. We know we have been in a good position for the last eight games, so hopefully we just see it out next week and carry it on next season."
How special was it right at the end to really connect Gasheads? It felt like no one left the stage for the lap of appreciation.
"I think that is just a testament to the fans, especially how good they are and how good they have been, especially when we have been winning.
"Obviously, we went through tough times at the start of the season, but they still stuck with us, and to be able to sell out in basically a nothing game today, just shows how good the fans are, I think."
