Chris Goreham: 'It was hard not to have some sympathy with those who follow Derby'

The feeling that officials have a personal vendetta against your team comes with the territory. There is an entire playlist of terrace chants devoted to the subject, most of which cannot be repeated in a family publication like this. It’s much harder to know how to react when an absolute howler goes in your favour.

Derby players are less-than-impressed with referee Oliver Langford after Borja Sainz's controversial opener (Image: PA) Norwich City found themselves in that position on Saturday afternoon. To us, Derby County 2-3 Norwich City will go down in history as the day Borja Sainz netted his first hat-trick for the club. It was a game which offered encouragement that Johannes Hoff Thorup’s Canaries can look after themselves when the going gets tough as well as play pretty football.

The fact that one and probably two of the goals shouldn’t have stood will be a mere footnote. Josh Sargent did nothing wrong for Sainz’s controversial opener. His valiant attempt to keep the ball in play was so good that it convinced the watching officials that the Pride Park pitch was an extra couple of yards longer than it really is.

Perhaps the referee and his assistants realised they were dealing with an American sportsman. Whether or not a ball is out can be a difficult argument to get out of in those circumstances. I can just hear Sargent bellowing, “that ball was on the line.

Chalk flew up”. As it was, the only cries of, “you cannot be serious” were from the home supporter.