Furman rocket in the running for major prize

DEAN FURMAN: Scorer of a screamer for Athletic in a 3-0 win against Notts County.

DEAN FURMAN: Scorer of a screamer for Athletic in a 3-0 win against Notts County.
ONLY four goals stand between Dean Furman and a special award.

The Athletic midfielder's stunning strike against Notts County earlier this season topped off a 14-pass move and provided the 22-year-old with his first-ever goal for the club.

Public votes have led to Furman's goal making it past the initial top 65 and then top 10 stages and into the final five in the Mitre Goal of the Year Award stakes.

The overall winner will be decided by attendees at the Football League Awards ceremony in London on Sunday, March 20.

But Furman's chance of claiming such a prestigious gong almost never came about, as the former Bradford midfielder revealed he nearly passed the ball instead.

"To be honest, if you look at the goal again — I have, just the once — when the ball comes to me I was actually looking to play it out wide to Ritchie Jones on the right," said currently suspended Furman, who has five goals to his name this season after breaking his scoring duck.

"But as I looked there was a midfielder in the way.

"My only real option was to shoot and luckily it ended up in the top corner.

"It was a nice goal and a great move from the boys.

"It shows we can play good football and that there is good football at this level."

The other four goals in contention are: Gareth Evans (for Bradford v Northampton); Dean Cox (Leyton Orient v Huddersfield); Lewis McGugan (Nottingham Forest v Ipswich); Rickie Lambert (Southampton v MK Dons).