Striker happy his hard work in the training ground is paying off
Marvin Sordell believes he is reaping the rewards for all the hard work shown on the training ground, after scoring three goals over two ties against Sunderland in the FA Cup.
The England under-21 international’s 64th-minute penalty and close-range strike nine minutes later sealed victory at the Stadium of Light on Tuesday Evening, booking Dougie Freedman’s men a fourth-round date with Premier League side Everton.
Sordell’s two goals on Wearside added to his previous strike at the Reebok in the side’s first meeting, and now the 21-year-old is hoping that his good run of games can continue as Bolton return to League action on Saturday against Crystal Palace.
Speaking after the game Sordell said: “I have always believed that with a good run of games I would score goals. The manager has shown faith in me and has put me in more over the last few games and hopefully I have repaid him with the goals I have scored.
"I have put in a lot of hard work on the training ground and tried to get myself to a good fitness level so I am able to come straight in and play games and score goals.
"That is what I enjoy doing, that is what I have been brought here to do and I am delighted to get two goals and for the team to get the victory as well. It feels good to be in the next round.
"We had a game plan and stuck to it very well. The manager kept us all in shape and we didn’t concede any goals.
"We caught them on the counter a couple of times and we passed the ball well especially in the second half.
"Sometimes games just don’t happen and you just have to keep working at it. The manager said at half time that everyone should just stick at it and the opportunities will come to you and we kept faith and we were rewarded in the end.
"Once we won the penalty I grabbed the ball to take the penalty. Benik tried to get the ball off me but I was determined to take it!
"Once we won the penalty I grabbed the ball to take the penalty. Benik tried to get the ball off me but I was determined to take it!
"When I was taking the penalty I just tried to get a clear mind and think where I am going to put it.
"If you get enough power and enough precision on it then the keeper has to pull off a very good save and fortunate enough the keeper went the wrong way.
"It is great to play in great stadiums like this against Premier League opposition and this is where we aim to be back.
"We still want to aim for promotion this season and if we get a good run of games and get some momentum behind us then I can’t see why we can't."