Joe Gelhardt is relieved to have got off the mark for Sunderland - and hopes there are plenty more goals where that came from. The on-loan Leeds United striker scored for the first time in red and white in the Black Cats' midweek defeat at Rotherham United, ending a four-game wait for a goal.
Gelhardt had been getting closer and closer and had hit the woodwork at QPR last week, and had seen a 'goal' disallowed for offside at Rotherham before the one that counted. "Yeah [it's a big relief]," he said, after getting that first goal.
"I think by now I've had a few good chances in the last few games. I think I could have scored three or four but that's football.
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"I'm happy to score my first goal, obviously the result didn't go our way but hopefully that kicks me on now and I can start getting a few more."
Gelhardt thought he had scored to level the scores at 1-1 when Dan Neil's cross flicked off Luke O'Nien's back and the striker was there to apply the finish, only for the flag to go up for offside. He said: "It was a bit of a teaser really.
"I didn't realise I was offside so I excited for a second then. I wanted a legit one and it motivated me to score again and hopefully I can get a few more before the end of the season."
Ten minutes later, Gelhardt scored his 'legit' goal but by that time the Millers had doubled their lead to 2-0. With the deficit halved, Sunderland put Rotherham under heavy pressure in the final half-hour but just could not find an equaliser - although Gelhardt went close in the 89th minute with a header only to be denied by goalkeeper Viktor Johansson.
It was a shock defeat for Sunderland against a side struggling at the wrong end of the table, and the Wearsiders dropped out of the play-off places as a result. They found it particularly tough going in the first half against a physical Rotherham side, with Gelhardt adding: "Yeah they are a physical team but I think every team in this league is physical, that's why it's one of the hardest leagues in the world.
"Everyone is physical and everyone is a good player. It was an end-to-end game and I think I'm still getting used to that a little but, but I'm enjoying it and am excited for the games to come."
With Ross Stewart ruled out for the remainder of the season through injury, Gelhardt is the only centre-forward available to Tony Mowbray, who has spoken about the challenges of asking the 20-year-old to play three games per week when he has been essentially a bit-part player at Leeds. But Gelhardt says the glut of games has helped him settle in at Sunderland.
He said: "Yeah, obviously that's part and parcel of it joining in January, it's going to be tough to know the lads and how they play. I think with the freedom that he gives you as an attacking player it makes it easier.
"I'm still learning how the other players play but I think it's getting better every game, the chemistry is growing and I'm enjoying my football at the minute."
Sunderland's defeat ended their five-game unbeaten run in the league, but they have no time to lick their wounds with another trip to Coventry City coming up on Saturday. Gelhardt said: "They come thick and fast in this league so we have to recover, get ready and go and get three points."
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