How Derby County boss John Eustace was involved in one of the EFL's most bizarre moments | OneFootball

John Eustace was credited with one of the craziest goals in Football League history

Derby County manager John Eustace played a large role in one of the EFL’s strangest goals.

There have been a number of bizarre moments in the history of the Football League, which have left supporters questioning why a certain decision has been given or managers clashing about off-field controversies.

From a Leeds United staff member being caught spying on Derby County’s training sessions in 2019 to Marcelo Bielsa ordering his team to let Aston Villa score, there are often moments of controversy that leave fans with numerous questions.

One of these scenarios involves Eustace, before he entered into the world of management and took over as Derby County boss.

During his playing days, the 46-year-old played for multiple EFL clubs, such as Coventry City, Middlesbrough, Watford and Derby. The side he played for most was the Hornets, whom he signed for in 2008 before going on to enjoy five years at Vicarage Road, where he eventually became club captain.

Despite enjoying mostly positive times with Watford, it also marked the time period where Eustace was involved in one of the EFL’s most bizarre moments.

John Eustace was credited with “ghost goal” at Watford during crazy EFL moment

After joining Watford in January 2008 for £250,000, things appeared to be going well for Eustace, as he comfortably slotted into Aidy Boothroyd's defence during the remainder of that term.

This good form carried on into the next season, but an extremely controversial moment was just around the corner.

When Watford welcomed Reading to Vicarage Road in September 2008, it appeared to be a perfectly normal Championship meeting until the visitors won a corner after 13 minutes.

Stephen Hunt swung in a corner for the Royals, which hit Eustace on the thigh, before Noel Hunt ran after the loose ball and attempted to put it back into the penalty area.

He proved unsuccessful in doing so, with the ball bobbling out of play. Both sets of players prepared themselves for a goal kick, as did referee Stuart Atwell, but assistant Nigel Bannister had different ideas.

He raised his flag, called Atwell over and began discussing what had happened in the previous phase of play. After a brief conversation, Atwell bizarrely awarded a goal to Reading, after Bannister had believed that the ball went inside the post and not out of play.

Eustace was subsequently credited with an own-goal, which left both sets of players completely bemused about what had just happened. Atwell was just 25 years of age at the time, with a lack of experience perhaps explaining his decision to award the goal.

Watford boss Boothroyd was sent off for his protests, clearly not being able to grasp what he was witnessing. The match ended 2-2, with the Hornets staging a comeback to take the lead, before a late penalty for Reading levelled proceedings.

After the match, both sets of players opened up on what had happened during the controversial moment. "Everyone could see what happened," said the current Derby boss. "It's a bit embarrassing. We thought he'd given a goal-kick and then it was a goal. It's ridiculous." Everyone was amazed by the decision."

Despite actively benefiting from the mishap, some of Reading’s squad also called out what had happened. “Probably the worst decision I've ever witnessed in football," stated Stephen Hunt, even though it helped his team head back home with some points.

John Eustace’s “ghost goal” provided an argument for goal-line technology

Eustace’s bizarre own-goal came during a time when a debate raged on about whether goal-line technology was needed in football.

More traditional viewers believe it took a certain element of the game away, with the human aspect of referring decisions simply part of the sport.

However, incidents such as this and Frank Lampard’s infamous strike against Germany in the 2010 World Cup began to mount too much evidence as to why officials desperately needed the help.

Alas, goal-line technology was eventually introduced to the Championship in 2017 and had it been there a decade prior, Eustace wouldn’t have been handed an undeserved own-goal and Watford may have secured all three points at Vicarage Road that day.

Instead, the Championship now has one of its many controversial moments that supporters can recall, which is another element that has made the division so captivating over the years.