Ireland U21 international Sinclair Armstrong scored his first goal for QPR in their 2-1 victory over Cardiff in the Championship on Saturday.
The 20-year-old opened the scoring after 34 minutes when met Paul Smyth's low ball across the penalty box with his left foot. Armstrong said that QPR manager Gareth Ainsworth told him before the match that he would score.
"It's actually mad because we were at the hotel and the gaffer was like, 'You're going to score your first goal today'," he told QPR's in-house media team.
"I was honestly just looking at him thinking 'If the first goal comes, I don't even know what I'm going to do'. Thankfully, I just stuck my foot out and it went in.
"If I'm being completely honest, I couldn't even see because my contact [lense] was out here [in the corner of my eye]. I'm not joking. I just seen Smythy and he was running with it. I just thought 'Try to get in the middle of the goal'. I just stuck my foot out and it went in."
I haven’t seen so much love and excitement around a player since Eze💙
The way this lad conducts himself both on and off the pitch is incredible for his age…he will go so far in football🔵⚪️
Up the Sinclair Armstrong🇮🇪 pic.twitter.com/FYzLU0pYFe— UpTheRs (@UpTheRs) August 13, 2023
Saturday's appearance was Armstrong's 26th for QPR since he joined them nearly three years ago from Shamrock Rovers.
"This is something that I've been waiting for for a long time," said a clearly emotional Armstrong.
"Last season it didn't happen. I just kept praying for one opportunity to come. Thankfully, it happened today and I also got an assist - I just want to put that out there!"
The interview we've all been waiting for 🤩 pic.twitter.com/vjwIKlKAFo
— QPR FC (@QPR) August 13, 2023
Armstrong also did superbly for QPR's crucial second goal of the game, beating a man down the right and then waiting patiently before pulling the ball back to the edge of the box for Kenneth Paal to score.
QPR had lost their opening game of the season 4-0 to Waterford last week.
26 March 2023; Sinclair Armstrong of Republic of Ireland in action against Andri Hoti of Iceland during the Under-21 international friendly match between Republic of Ireland and Iceland at Turners Cross in Cork. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile
"We let ourselves down last week," said Armstrong.
"It wasn't our best performance. It was crap, to be honest. Of course, it's something we have to forget about. You don't want to dwell on something that long. Our reaction [on Saturday] was top. We had go out there and play with no fear. That's exactly what we did.
"The fans mean so much to me. Even small things like when I see them on the street or when they message me on Instagram, 'Just keep at it and your first goal will come'.
"When they chant my name, it's something different. I never thought in my 20 years that I'd have a chant of my own. They were top today. We heard them all day long. I'm grateful for the fans and hopefully we can keep going. We won't stop here."
Ainsworth described Armstrong as a "work in progress"
"I believe we’ve got a real diamond," he added.
"He’s young and come out of a lower level in Ireland. He’s not had enough games in the Championship yet, but he will get there and he’s like a 100-metres sprinter.
"He’s the quickest player I’ve ever worked with and is going to cause serious problems for defences."
