COLIN Hendry today reflected on his own personal agony as Blackburn Rovers' FA Cup hopes were wrecked in a penalty shoot-out and admitted: "I wouldn't have wished it on anyone else."

Hendry stood up to be counted by taking the crucial fifth penalty with the scores tied at 4-4 only to see West Ham keeper Craig Forrest save his shot.

And there was no consoling him today, as he confessed he was gutted about the penalty miss but more important a cup defeat which leaves just one route to Europe remaining for Rovers through the Premiership.

"I am so disappointed but I feel even more sorry for the rest of the team and supporters and what might have happened if we had won the game," he said.

"But I didn't have any doubts about taking it, even though I knew the fifth one might be crucial. I decided to go for power and to try to keep it low.

"I don't think I've ever missed in this type of situation. I have scored in pre-season tournaments and at Sheffield United the last time we lost on penalties in the FA Cup.

"When the keeper stuck out his foot to save it, it's one of those situations where everything flashes in front of you, and you think about the chances you have had in the game.

"It certainly tests your resolve and your character, it tests everything really.

"For me personally, the quicker the next game comes round the better it will be, because you know you will get a lot of support.

"I've already had that from a lot of people. "But we have to pick ourselves up because we still have a great deal to play for. There is a chance of qualifying for the Champions' League and, in many ways, that is an even bigger prize than the FA Cup."

Hendry was one of five Rovers volunteers to take the penalties, though when Martin Dahlin was sent on with barely a minute of extra time to go, it was presumed - wrongly as it turned out - that he was to take one.

Manager Roy Hodgson said he was not on their list.

"Martin Dahlin is not a penalty taker," he said. "He only came on because Stuart Ripley had run himself into the ground. We didn't know how much stoppage time there might be and we put someone on with fresh legs."

Dahlin himself confirmed: "He brought me on to take a penalty but not one of the first five. Stuart had cramp everywhere, that's why he came off.

"We are all disappointed but we know it's not Colin's fault. Everybody can miss a penalty and we are not blaming him."

Hodgson admitted he "hates" penalty shoot-outs, adding: "You might as well put a ball on a roulette wheel and bet whether it is going to come up black or red."

There was sympathy for Hendry, even from the West Ham camp with former team-mate Ian Pearce saying: "It's a bad way to win a game. Colin didn't deserve anything like that."

For Alan Fettis it was also a heart-breaking night as he made his home debut for Rovers as a late deputy and could do absolutely nothing to keep them in the FA Cup. The frustration showed afterwards for the keeper, who was almost totally unemployed during the game and was then beaten five times by some clinical West Ham penalties.

"I don't like those games. It's all about concentration because we just battered them," he said.

Rovers picked up another injury last night when Billy McKinlay had to be substituted early on with a thigh strain.

McKinlay might struggle for Saturday's game against Leicester but Garry Flitcroft did well as his replacement.

Tim Flowers was absent through a niggling shoulder injury and that gave 18-year-old Gareth Stewart his first taste of the senior scene on the bench.

Rovers' home game against Manchester United has been moved back two days to Monday April 6.

And the game at home to Barnsley on Saturday March 7 has been postponed because of the Yorkshire side's FA Cup tie.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.