SAM Smith paid tribute to Reading FC hero Eamonn Dolan after the teenager scored his first professional goal in Royals' lung-busting extra-time win over Millwall.

Smith kept his composure and delicately dinked the ball over Tom King's head in the dying embers of the 120-minute Carabao Cup second-round clash.

The 19-year-old, who was making only his second professional career start, darted straight over to the Reading faithful to celebrate his long-awaited moment.

And he touched the hearts of many supporters when he pointed towards former cult-hero Dolan and blew him a kiss in a memorable celebration.

“I've been waiting for this moment for a long time,” an emotional Smith declared.

“I just have to thank the football club, all the staff and of course my teammates. I honestly can't describe the feeling. I'm just so happy.

“He (Dolan) was a massive influence on me, he brought me into the club and he believed in me.

“Honestly, I just want to thank him. It's sad that he's not here but I know he would have seen that goal.”

Smith played the entirety of Royals' Carabao Cup win and showed a late burst of energy as he latched onto a long-range pass by George Evans before netting the third goal.

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Smith paid tribute to Eamonn Dolan, pictured above, who died in 2016.

The young striker said he was thrilled by the experience and hopes to force his way into Jaap Stam's first-team thoughts when the Royals travel to Birmingham City in the Championship on Saturday afternoon (3pm ko).

“My legs have fallen off but that's football,” Smith continued in an exclusive interview with the Chronicle.

“It was a tough game to be involved in and they are a tough side. It was strange for me to be playing up against Jake Cooper.

“Hopefully I'll be involved on Saturday, it's up to the manager to look at the squad depth and we will see what happens in training.

“I just want to keep working hard and keep getting better and hopefully the manager will believe in me.

“He's been a huge part of my development as well.

“We have a few strikers out at the moment but there are a lot of good players.

“I'm training with them and I'm learning so much so I just need to keep going.”