The former Southampton man light-heartedly compared himself to the Manchester City goal machine after their 3-0 win.
Dundee United full-back Will Ferry light-heartedly compared himself to Manchester City goal machine Erling Haaland following his brace in Sunday’s 3-0 derby win.
While the 25-year old’s second goal of the afternoon, a well placed strike from the edge of the penalty area into the far corner, was certainly a quality goal, it would be fair to call his first unconventional at best. It came as a result of a Zach Sapsford strike from inside the penalty area that deflected off Dundee defender Luke Graham and then ricocheted off Ferry as he picked himself up from the ground from six yards, wrong-footing Dundee keeper Jon McCracken and trundling in off the inside of the far post.
As the old saying goes, they all count. And Ferry acknowledged that being in the right place at the right time is a trademark of all the best goalscorers. It’s certainly something Haaland, the towering Norwegian who has scored 109 goals in 129 games for City, has been known for throughout his career.
‘Everything’s just adrenaline’ - Dundee Derby goal hero recalls brace against Dark Blues
“Honestly, I think I'm a bit like Haaland,” the former Republic of Ireland under 21 international joked as he spoke after Sunday’s Dundee Derby. “Just being in the right place at the right time! I’m trying to grow my hair like him as well.
“But no, I can't even remember the second goal, everything's just adrenaline. I know I hit the second one well, but the first one I just remember being on the floor, and then it just seemed to go in slow motion, a bit of spin on the ball took it in.
“I’ll take anything I can get at the minute, because you see it all the time, when a player's got a bit of confidence, you seem to get a bit of luck as well. That’s something I don't think I've necessarily had during my time here, that bit of a lucky bounce, a deflection or something.
“So I'll take everything I can get while it's coming but I'm not going to take it for granted and I’m just happy on a personal note.”
Ferry had gone all season without scoring prior to getting his first in United’s 2-0 win over Celtic at Tannadice last month. He found the net again last weekend as they beat Livingston and then his brace against Dundee brings him to four goals in four games.
The former Southampton defender acknowledged he is currently playing some of the best football of his career, saying: “I don't want to blow my own trumpet too much, but I'd like to think I've been playing really well. As a team, we've all had a bit of stick this season, not necessarily reaching the levels that we should.
“Looking at my whole two years, I've been quite consistent and I've been decent enough but these last three weeks, four weeks - I think I've stepped up a little bit. That doesn't sound great, because then you could say, why are you not always at that level? But that's football, isn't it?
“Like I said, when you've got a bit of confidence, you never know what happens, and I'm taking it all, taking whatever I can get.”
Ferry enjoying ‘honest’ relationship with Dundee United boss Jim Goodwin
Ferry is now coming to the end of his second season at Tannadice, having arrived in the summer of 2024 on a three-year contract. He added that he is loving life in the City of Discovery and praised manager Jim Goodwin and the coaching staff for the impact they have had on his development.
“I've loved it,” he said. “It's been probably the best two years of my career in terms of performances. It’s just been so good, even in the hard times of the season.
“They [coaching staff] are important, the gaffer's had certain talks with me about performances, and whether he thinks I'm in the right headspace, whatever it may be. He’s honest enough to say, listen, I think you've got more in the tank.
“It's a good relationship, we're very similar, so there could be a clash of personalities but we know how to deal with each other. I like to think he loves me as a player, and I might be a pain in the arse sometimes for him - actually he'll say it in worse words, that I'm the moaniest player you'll ever meet in training.
“But I'm just desperate to win everything, whether it's boxes in training, or whatever it may be. I think he loves that side of me, because I think it's a bit of himself.”