adminJUST IN: Middlesbrough’s Morgan Whittaker issues cheeky message directed at Derby County – Rams fans are hitting back
Middlesbrough forward Morgan Whittaker sparked strong reactions from Derby County fans after scoring the winning goal against the club where he began his career on Saturday.
Boro secured a 2-1 victory over the Rams at the Riverside Stadium, though it wasn’t straightforward. Patrick Agyemang put Derby ahead inside two minutes, but late goals from Matt Targett and Whittaker turned the game around, lifting Kim Hellberg’s side back into second place in the Championship.
For Whittaker, the winning strike was particularly meaningful, given his roots in Derby County’s academy.
However, his celebrations and subsequent social media post drew the ire of Rams supporters. On the pitch, he ran over to the traveling Derby fans with his hands cupped behind his ears, and after the match, he shared a photo of his knee-slide on Instagram captioned:
“That one was sweet. What a win at the Riverside, the lads were incredible. 3 in 3.”
While comments under the post were limited, Derby fans took to X (formerly Twitter) to express their displeasure. Reactions ranged from questioning his motives to criticizing the intensity of his celebration, with some even suggesting the goal may have unintentionally been a cross.
Some players choose not to celebrate against a former club, but Whittaker was unapologetic.
Born in Derby, he made his first-team debut for the Rams in a Carabao Cup match against Barrow in August 2019, and played his first full match in a 3-0 loss to local rivals Nottingham Forest.
Despite signing a new contract in September 2020, he moved to Swansea City the following January after 32 appearances for Derby. He later had stints at Plymouth Argyle before joining Middlesbrough for a £5 million fee in the summer, where he has become a regular starter.
This winning goal capped off a productive week for the winger. It was his third goal in seven days, following his equalizer against Oxford and another strike in a 4-2 home defeat to Coventry City. With five league goals so far, Whittaker is Middlesbrough’s top scorer this season.
After a mixed start to the campaign, Whittaker’s rich vein of form came at the worst possible time for Derby fans. While scoring against his hometown club is likely emotional for the player, the Rams now have little choice but to regroup.
Championship fixtures come thick and fast, and Derby face another local rival, Leicester City, on Tuesday night. They will get a chance for revenge when Middlesbrough visit Derby on New Year’s Day.
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