One own-goal for a player can have a devastating effect on a player and his confidence in a season. Multiply that and look at the 43 games left of the 2016/17 Championship campaign and have a little empathy for Blackburn’s Shane Duffy.
With the season only into the third game, Shane Duffy has already topped the scoring charts for the 2016/17 Championship – unfortunately all three of his goals have gone in at the wrong end. 47 minutes of football and three own-goals in what is effectively a half of football that the Irishman would likely rather forget.
Goal number 1 – vs Blackburn (67′)
Shane Duffy with the 'Come and get me' to Celtic pic.twitter.com/H07if4ygao
— Pat McCarry (@patmccarry) August 13, 2016
Goal numbers 2 and 3 – vs Cardiff (14′ and 20′)
https://twitter.com/Imowencoyle/status/765990293200048128
In situations like this, the only option for players is to grit their teeth and play through the embarrassment; fans of the team tend to grit their teeth for a wholly different reason. Such is the rarity of a player scoring two own goals in a match, let alone three at the start of a season that ALL football fans seem to be readying their digs.
Duffy secures a hat-trick of own goals – Twitter erupts.
This football fan takes a sly dig, which was amongst hundreds.
Shane Duffy top scorer for 3 sides , surely one of the big boys will snap him up
— BOLO (@stevenbolton9) August 17, 2016
This Blackburn fan sees a radical way to avoid leaking goals.
https://twitter.com/MikeDeaks/status/765997984484130816
Adam makes a comparative analogy with more than a hint of jest.
How is Shane Duffy paid to play football? By his standard, I'm a Champions League worthy keeper…
— Adam Bux (@buxy84950) August 17, 2016
James seems to think a round of applause is in order.
Shane Duffy scored two first-half own goals vs Cardiff tonight. #BRFC #CCFC pic.twitter.com/1A8fnGK5Tb
— James (@JBrowning1_) August 17, 2016
Aaron seems to see a very dark, ironic side to tonight’s events.
https://twitter.com/AaronJ_Bird/status/765998186934706178
This Blackburn fan says that Duffy is only part of a problem.
As bad as Shane Duffy's season has been so far with Jason Steele in goal behind you you're always going to concede loads.
— Michael Cox (@MichaelCox3792) August 17, 2016
Another dig in jest at Duffy’s feat.
So Shane Duffy is going for League top scorer. 1st person to win the golden boot scoring for every club but his own!!!
— Define Normal (@nodaybuttoday81) August 17, 2016
Adam points out the unwanted record that Duffy has gained.
Shane Duffy never scored an own goals he's now scored 3 in 2 games 😂😂
— Adam Ganley (@AdamGanoLFC) August 17, 2016
Forget a bin swallowing up Shane Duffy, there’ll be a lot of Blackburn fans wanting the same to happen to them.
https://twitter.com/JA_Salisbury/status/766007927085948929
Could a transfer be on the cards, one that strengthens the Blackburn back line.
Blackburn would probably rather see Patrick Duffy playing in their defence then Shane Duffy at the moment! pic.twitter.com/PW8pomwWKi
— Ronnie Fowler (@ronnief71) August 17, 2016
The final Tweet that really owns all others tonight is this one.
"Shane Duffy's on fire…his own defence is terrified" ⚽️🔥 #TwoOwnGoals pic.twitter.com/RSTpjCDMZu
— Football Therapy (@TherapyFooty) August 17, 2016
To put Duffy’s three own-goals in 47 minutes into perspective, John Terry has only scored four over his entire Premier League career.