Matt Baker | To score my first professional goal was a good feeling

Matt Baker

Matt Baker described his first professional goal as a “good feeling" after his excellent strike sealed Newport County’s 3-1 win over Doncaster Rovers.

The 21-year-old, making back-to-back starts following the Exiles’ midweek trip to Leyton Orient, met a loose ball inside the box and fired home an unstoppable shot high into the net.

The Wales international is enjoying a run of games after joining the Exiles on a permanent basis from Stoke City this summer.  

And the defender was delighted to cap off a fine afternoon at Rodney Parade with a first goal and three points. 

“To score my first professional goal was a good feeling," said Baker. “It’s been a long-time coming. 

“In the last two seasons I kept thinking that it would come some time, but it didn’t.  

“I’ve kept working hard over the last few years and thankfully it's finally come. It's a really good feeling.  

“I didn’t even look at the linesman. I just saw everyone running to me so I just thought I must have been onside.  

“I couldn’t tell you when my last goal was, it was probably with the under 21’s at some point at Stoke, so I’m really happy to get my first goal of my career.”

Baker, who began the day in a new look back three, was pleased with his side’s performance, and insists there's more to come from Nelson Jardim’s side this season. 

“We’re in a really good place," added Baker. 

“It might not look like that after the first two games but we’re all bonding and we can’t wait for the next game to come.

“For us to get the win today and to play as well as we did helps boost everyone's happiness and motivation to kick on and trust that the process is going to work.  

“I think with the way we want to play it won’t change overnight. It’s going to take everyone to buy in and it’s going to take time. 

“We came out into the second half firing today. I think we were the better team and it was fully deserved so it’s onto the next game now.”