Matty Cash helped to deliver on the dreams of several thousand Nottingham Forest fans against Derby, while also fulfilling one notable one of his own.
Tuesday evening ended on a high for all of those of a red persuasion.
A 3-0 win over the Rams will always help to raise collective spirits.
Jubilant scenes in the stands were scattered throughout a memorable night at the City Ground.
Similar were delivered in the dressing room afterwards.
The Brian Clough Trophy is staying on Trentside.
Success
Sabri Lamouchi’s side have made the most of hammering home that point.
Among those to have revelled most in a derby success is Cash.
An academy graduate knows what these contests mean to all concerned.
Having come through the ranks, he is well versed in the demands of meetings with the Rams.
Silverware is an added bonus when it comes to these fixtures.
As is taking the captain’s armband.
Cash has now achieved what he “always dreamed” of doing.
And on the grandest of stages.
The second round of the Carabao Cup may not get the biggest of billings, but this was Forest versus Derby.
Regardless of the competition or occasion, that is a big one.
Cash has more happy memories to add to his personal collection.
He was skippering the Reds in midweek when the final whistle blew.
Joe Worrall was captain for the night and led Forest into battle with old adversaries.
He had more than done his job by the time a late breather was handed out.
One home-grown star made his way off to a standing ovation while passing the armband to another.
Leader
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Cash is not an obvious fit for the ‘leader’ mould.
He is the same age as Worrall, though, and the 22-year-old should believe that he has plenty of offer.
No questions can be asked of his commitment at present.
Cash has take in a positional tweak this season, with Sabri Lamouchi asking him to fill a right-back berth.
That was the case once again on Tuesday.
As has been the case over recent weeks – an outing on the wing against Charlton aside – Cash let nobody down.
He never gives anything less than 100 per cent.
Consistency when it comes to end product may remain a work in progress, but Cash deserves his moment and can take plenty of heart from it.
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