Town’s 10-goal top scorer Martyn Waghorn has revealed video games have provided the inspiration for his goal celebrations in the Blues’ recent home matches.

The bargain-of-the-season £250,000 buy from Rangers lay on his chest and mimicked firing a gun towards the Sir Bobby Robson Stand after scoring in the 2-2 draw with Sheffield Wednesday and then sat on the ground and mimed driving after netting Town’s key third goal in Saturday’s 4-2 win against Nottingham Forest.

“The first celebration last week (below) was Call Of Duty and this one was Super Mario Kart, as we had a marathon session of that this week during the trip to Derby,” Waghorn explained following Saturday’s match.

“We will have to look at something different for next time. Perhaps it will be another Super Mario celebration if I get on the goal-sheet again.

“Given the amount of time we spend travelling we get plenty of opportunities for games.”

Reflecting on Saturday’s victory, he added: “It was a really good gritty team performance. We let them back in twice when we had scored good goals but the character and goals we showed in the second half meant we could kick on and looked comfortable at the end.

“They have a lot of good players and they made it hard for us but in the end we frustrated them and caught them on the break so the game plan worked brilliantly.

“We frustrate teams and they leave gaps at the back so players like myself, Bersant Celina and Grant Ward can exploit that and we have a powerful attack.”

Waghorn’s goal came after he put Michael Mancienne under pressure as he chased a Callum Connolly ball into space, the Forest skipper slipping as he looked to play back to his keeper.

“I live off bits like that,” Waghorn added. “The defender was a bit short and you have to take chances when they come because you don’t get many.”

That goal was the South Shields-born striker’s sixth at home since his August move and the 27-year-old claimed another assist on Saturday to take his total to four - although arguably the total should be five, he additionally played a pivotal role in David McGoldrick’s goal against Sunderland - three of them at Portman Road.

“I’ll take that,” he said when told his assists tally. ”Sometimes stats just go over my head but it is good to know I’m contributing to the team like that. We are on the back of two really good wins and we have to keep that going.”

Waghorn’s set pieces have become an increasing threat in recent games. Town should have made more of his deliveries at Aston Villa a week ago, then Callum Connolly flicked home the winner at Derby in midfield.

On-loan Everton man Connolly again profited from Forest keeper Jordan Smith only being able to palm away Waghorn's seventh-minute freekick effort at goal on Saturday.

“I believe in my ability and a couple were overcooked but we have a really good presence in the box so if I can deliver on the money then they will finish,” the Blues frontman continued.

“I probably overcooked a couple but we are a real threat and it was good to see a couple work for us.

“We are in a good area looking forward. It is busy schedule but if we can keep picking up points like this and quietly go about our business then we can get right in the mix.

“We are bit thin as a squad with injuries but we have good players and we can keep going.”

He added: “I’m really enjoying myself here. I couldn’t have asked for a better start so I obviously want to keep that going."

Forest midfielder David Vaughan felt errors cost his team in the second half after they had battled hard to level twice before the break.

“We scored two great goals, which we worked hard to score but we then conceded silly goals,” he said.

“Mistakes have cost us this game and we can’t keep doing that or we will be looking over our shoulder instead of upwards.

“We are still a work in progress but there is only so long you can say that. We need to stop making mistakes and conceding soft goals.”

Photos: TWTD/Action Images

Dissboyitfc added 07:06 - Dec 4 Great signing it proves players are out there and you dont need to spend stupid money for Championship Quality!
7

spanishblue added 07:54 - Dec 4 Very probably MM has the top transfers this summer 2x Rangers throw outs ha gutted I bet,Celina is turning up pretty good,the boy from from Everton who did,nt look like he was going to be here after Xmas,Hughes is back,even with the cruel injuries we are still in the mix my faith is being restored happy Xmas Mm and the boys
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tazdac added 09:11 - Dec 4 Maybe a Sonic roll could be in order next time :o)
2

rozeeboy added 09:28 - Dec 4 As long as he hits the net I don't really care, but doing that with your standing foot while shooting can't be good for you?
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RoyalAscotBlue added 09:48 - Dec 4 Bargain-of-the-season or bargain-of-the-century! You're absolutely right Dissboy, there are players out there and you don't have to spend millions to get them.
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OsborneOneNil added 10:35 - Dec 4 It's excellent technique, Rozeeboy.
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Palestine added 11:15 - Dec 4 Dissboy - a great pic, but actually that is normal technique. As a striker I can confirm that is often how your standing fit goes as you strike the ball. Trust!
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dirtydingusmagee added 11:17 - Dec 4 He could be our next ''legend'', Keep it up ''Wags''.
3

jayceee added 11:49 - Dec 4 Super player, great character.
4

howdonblue added 12:26 - Dec 4 MAIN MAN What a bargain! I'm no fan of Evans or McCarthy however this was superb business
3

Monkey_Blue added 13:24 - Dec 4 Great signing and hard to work out why he's not had this impact elsewhere. MM hasn't done badly with his signings. I also think we may be in the market come the window, perhaps another centre back and with Moore coming back it will feel like a new signing.
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adamisablue added 15:04 - Dec 4 as a games developer..i approve this message. carry on...
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timspencero added 17:25 - Dec 4 When we made this signing, i made the point on this board that he looked like a confidence player who, from his goals reel, had the attributes of a top quality footballer. Clearly up at Rangers his confidence was shot, and the fans there (while clearly liking him as a bloke a lot, as you can see from his regular well wishes from Glasgow on his Twitter) thought he wasn't up to it - they couldn't believe they were making any money for him at all. The Gers were actually patting themselves and the board on the back for selling at the time. Seeing his reawakening as a footballer has been genuinely one of the best things about this season. It feels like so long since we've had a player who, when he gets the ball, you feel just has the self-belief to make something happen. At the moment he's making it look effortless. The years & years I grew up listening to the radio, and the number of times i heard 'he's through on goal, OHH he couldn't put it away' ... with Waggy, you just feel calmly like he can, and will. It's un-Town-like, but in such a good way! He seems to be enjoying himself, in his understated way, and I hope the club appreciate him, reward him and that he builds a brilliant relationship with the fans too. He definitely has what it takes to be a Town hero, like we have had of old. Keep it up Waggy, you legend.

2

Taricco_Fan added 17:46 - Dec 4 Love the guy. Excellent player and a great character. Nailed-on for Player of the Year if he keeps this up.
2

tazdac added 18:16 - Dec 4 Does Waggy look like Dougal from Father Ted that photo?
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Rensham added 18:48 - Dec 4 Makes you ashamed to follow football.
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Dissboyitfc added 20:01 - Dec 4 Palestine..... i never mentioned anything in the picture??? Confusing me with another comment perhaps?
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ruffles1988 added 20:44 - Dec 4 We would be nowhere with out this guy top footballer brilliant
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KiwiBlue2 added 02:17 - Dec 5 Spent lot of last season wondering where our goals were going to come from, apart from Tom Lawrence. This season we have 4 scoring regularly and several others chipping in like Spence and now connolly and Iorfa. Just need to tighten the defence up a bit. It's been a long time since we were near the top of highest scorers in the league. When at full strength I think we can foot it with anyone else in the C/ship. Feeling very confident of a playoff spot.

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GerkensBeard added 19:34 - Dec 5 These celebrations are great for young fans. I remember as a young lad my dad taking me to Portman Road and I'd be looking forward to seeing Shefki's flying fin celebration. A lad in my football team tried to re create this on the Sunday in our game and I expect this will have the same effect on young fans watching waghorn do these celebrations.
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