Derby Co - 1 Bristol Rovers - 3: The FA Cup yesterday maintained its delightful ability to deliver the unexpected and, in Nathan Ellington, a hero. The young striker's hat-trick ensured that Third Division Bristol Rovers not so much bridged the gap between them and their Premiership opponents as rendered it non-existent.
Rave reviews over the Yorkshire-born 20-year-old's scoring talents have become commonplace since he joined Rovers from non-league Walton and Hersham.
He was Rovers' top scorer last season, striking 18 times as his club was relegated. Shoulder and knee injuries have reduced his appearances this season but the striker nicknamed the Duke still tops the Memorial stadium charts with 13 goals.
Derby County clearly had not done their homework on a player whose speed, nose for goal and willingness to try the unexpected bring to mind Ian Wright without the attitude.
Some clubs have noticed. Norwich are understood to have made a bid this season but after this the Canaries will have to join a growing queue.
"I'll be checking his contract in the morning," said Rovers' manager Garry Thompson. "I think it's got another couple of years to run, but we've no intention of selling him." But Rovers' parlous financial position may dictate otherwise.
Time and time again the fleet-footed and quick-turning striker left Horacio Carbonari and co on their backsides or flat-footed. Not least in the 14th minute when he nipped between the Argentine and Youl Mawene to head the goalkeeper Scott Howie's prodigious clearance past the advancing Mart Poom.
Ellington's second goal needed a deflection off the hapless Mawene to wrong-foot Poom. But there was no luck attached to his third. Che Wilson's long ball found Ellington on the edge of the penalty area but with his back to goal. After chesting the ball down the striker swivelled and hit it first time past the unsuspecting Poom.
But, as their manager pointed out, Rovers' victory was not the product of only one man's efforts. "There were 11 heroes out there," said Thompson.
By the time Ravanelli headed home Benito Carbone's cross from the left it was far too late for salvation for a well beaten Derby County.
DERBY CO: Poom, Grenet, Mawene (Morris 52), Carbonari, Higginbotham, Zavagno, Bolder, Carbone, Boertien, Christie, Ravanelli. Subs Not Used: Grant, Elliott, Burton, Murray. Booked: Zavagno. Goal: Ravanelli 88.
BRISTOL ROVERS: Howie, Wilson, Foran, Smith, Challis, Gall (Walters 71), Hogg, Plummer, Hillier, Ellington, Ommel. Subs Not Used: Clarke, Jones, Cameron, Bubb. Booked: Challis, Ommel, Plummer. Goals: Ellington 14, 40, 62.
Refreree: D Gallagher (Oxfordshire).
