Two-goal striker Noel Hunt felt quietening down the Millwall fans with his early goals was key to Town’s 3-1 victory at the Den on Saturday. Hunt, making his first start for the Blues in place of the injured David McGoldrick, netted in the fifth and 14th minutes as Town got off to the perfect start against the struggling Lions.
"We knew it was going to be tough — it’s always a tough place to come,” said the 32-year-old. "The gaffer had us well prepared, our aim was to keep the crowd quiet and I think we did that.
"We scored an early goal. We had to make sure we won the scrap. We felt they’d have a bit of a rally after their midweek result. They made a lot of changes, so we knew it was going to be tough.
"They got a goal back before half-time that gave them a little bit of a boost. But a great finish from Jonny killed it off.”
Hunt, whose last start was coincidentally at Millwall for Leeds in their opening game of the season, was delighted to start in a front two with fellow Waterford man Daryl Murphy with McGoldrick absent with a knee injury.
The 32-year-old had previously played wide on the right for the Blues but sees himself primarily as an out and out striker.
"I’ve played there all my career,” he said, "So it’s nice to be up there and nice to get a couple of goals. I’m sure if Murph or any of the boys were in the same position, they would have put them away as well.”
However, he says he’s happy to play anywhere if asked: "You’ve got to be able to do whatever the manager asks. I don’t mind playing wherever — if he tells me to play in goal, I’ll play in goal!
"That’s the way we do it. We all fend for each other. It was nice to get up front, yes. And it was great playing with Murph. We are from the same town and he’s been on fire. He was such a handful today — I think he was a big part in my two goals.”
He added: "TC and I’ve been working a lot on my finishing, so it is nice to give something back.”
Murphy was involved in all three of Town’s goals, while Hunt’s brother Stephen played a part in the first two, which came as little surprise to Noel.
"We play ‘young v old’ on the day before a game and he’d set up three of my goals on Friday. So, it was quite funny when he set up the first goal. He’s got great quality. The whole squad have.
"We put great balls into the box and it’s nice to go attack some. I’m just enjoying playing with the boys. Jay Tabb is there - I played with him for four years at Reading. Daryl is there — we grew up together — playing against each other in Waterford.
"He was so good today, talking me through because I haven’t played for a long time. He kept on encouraging me.”
While delighted to have scored a brace for the first time since Reading’s January 2013 4-0 FA Cup victory over Sheffield United (his last double in the league was back in August 2009 in a 3-1 Royals win at Barnsley), he admits he might have had a hat-trick but for Millwall and Ireland keeper David Forde.
"Yeah, there was a couple that just didn’t fall my way — and Fordey made a good save off one of them,” he said. "I’m a bit gutted not to get three but I’ll take two and not be greedy!”
Hunt was impressed with new signing Freddie Sears’s contribution from the bench: "Freddie is a great player. He came on and did well, but we’ve got a lot of good players here — it’s a really good squad.”
He added: "They are a fantastic bunch of boys and it is a great club. You saw the 2,500 fans today — it felt like a home game sometimes. It was great. I’m just pleased that I’ve come here and hopefully every day I can get sharper and sharper.”