Distraught Danny can’t get over penalty miss

DISTRAUGHT Danny Crow was inconsolable after his penalty miss at Hayes & Yeading on Tuesday night, writes Mark Wood.

The normally reliable spot-kick merchant saw keeper Steve Arnold brilliantly save his penalty before also denying Jake Howells from 12 yards as Town were held to a disappointing 2-2 draw.

Crow went on to net his second goal of the season, but said: “I’m very deflated to be honest. I missed that penalty and can’t get over it to be honest. I’m really disappointed.

“Happy I scored, but words can’t describe how gutted I am. I practice it in training and always go the other way so I don’t know what I was doing.

“It’s nice to score but it feels like we’ve lost this game and need to pick ourselves up for Friday against Stockport.”

And he explained how after seeing his strike saved that he felt he should let Howells, who was brought down for the second penalty, have a go.

Crow continued: “After missing one it’s hard to pick yourself up and take it.

“Amari (Morgan-Smith) and I practice all the time in training and Jake’s penalty in the play-off final was different class and he was confident to take it.

“Jake’s stepped up and everyone knows his penalty in the final was at a crucial time and it’s probably the biggest he will take in his career. It’s not like the boys don’t practice it.”

But despite being denied, Crow is keen to keep hold of the responsibility.

He said: “If we do get a penalty I want to take it. I hit it in the corner and the keeper saved it. If I get another I will take it unless Robbie (Willmott) or someone else wants it.

“When I was at Cambridge I must have scored eight to 10 penalties.

“I think I missed last season and had forgtotten about that. I’m gutted.”

Manager Gary Brabin was miffed by Town’s proligacy from the spot, saying: “It’s not even a curse. Danny Crow for me is a really good penalty taker. Crowy has been injured again and the game got delayed and he felt OK to take it and he has missed.

“Unfortunately he has missed one today and every time we are missing one it’s putting more and more pressure on the next one.

“Our lads take penalties in training and even after training.

“We just need someone who will be ruthless and I don’t think we’ve got anyone who is like that. It’s not for want of trying.”

Midfielder Keith Keane was also surprised by the misses and thinks the players will be practising all the more as a result. He said: “I think the lads who do play will practice taking penalties from now on I would say so.

“The players taking them you would normally put your house on them. They will practice them and hopefully put them away next time.

“They are good enough players to put that behind them and I’m confident in them taking the next one.

“Danny Crow’s an excellent finisher. You put him in front of goal and that’s why I’m surprised he missed. If you give him a chance he will generally put it away.”

And if no-one else steps up Keane revealed he wouldn’t hesitate, saying: “I’m not the best at penalties. If they didn’t want to take them I would happily step up and take one. That’s what they are paid to do and I’m confident they will want to take the next one and I have confidence in them.”

Crow was also left to lament the goals Luton conceded and is hoping they can bounce back with victory in front of the Premier Sports TV cameras at Stockport County tomorrow night, who lost 1-0 at home to Mansfield on Monday.

He added: “Away from home we’ve scored two but conceded two as well.

“I think the defence has done well, but now and then have switched off and today we’ve been punished for it.

“The first goal has come from our corner which is disappointing.

“I just can’t describe how gutted the boys are. We have a big game on Friday, the fans were fantastic and hopefully they will do it again. They (Stockport) will be out to beat us (after the Mansfield defeat) and are angry, but we are angry too and up for it ourselves.”

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