Spurs Forget To Practise Their Penalty Taking

Tottenham striker Darren Bent has revealed that he and his team-mates didn't practice penalties before their League Cup final shoot-out defeat against Manchester United.

In my opinion, in these days of tight cup final games where league position doesn't matter a jot, it is vital a team not only prepares the players for a penalty shoot out, but the goalkeepers too watch the oppositions players and study how they take penalties. Spurs seemingly did neither as Fergie got his boys to do both.

Ben Foster was wondering around watching O'Hara and Bentley along with the other Spurs players taking their penalties so he could work out his strategy should a shoot out take place.

Harry Redknapp's side created the better chances at Wembley on Sunday but couldn't beat United keeper Ben Foster. They fared little better against Foster in the shoot-out as Jamie O'Hara's effort was saved before David Bentley shot wide.

In contrast United converted all four of their penalties to win the shoot-out 4-1 and end Tottenham's reign as League Cup holders. Bent was due to take Tottenham's fifth penalty and, although the shoot-out didn't get that far, the England forward insisted he didn't blame Redknapp for not insisting on spot-kick practice in the week before the match.

"For me and the team, we thought there is no point practicing penalties because you can hit it in the same spot 10 times out of 10 and if the keeper saves it you can't really do anything," Bent said. "Sometimes it happens. I've seen the best of them miss penalties. It's an unfortunate way to lose a game. Obviously the lads who missed are going to be down but we got behind them afterwards. We know they are fantastic players and we are not going to hold it against them. When Jamie came on he did really well. . He knows he can put it behind him.".....Back To Home Page...