BURNLEY goalkeeper Brian Jensen insists Graham Alexander will quickly bounce back from the disappointment of a rare penalty miss in Saturday’s goalless draw at home to Bristol City.
Alexander had scored all 18 of his previous spot kicks for Burnley and is renowned as arguably the best penalty taker around after netting 74 during his career.
But the 39-year-old briefly stunned Turf Moor into silence on Saturday as he put his first-half penalty wide of the post, and Burnley remain eighth in the Championship table after being unable to break the deadlock for the rest of the game.
Jensen, however, made it clear that no-one in the Burnley dressing room would even consider pinning the blame for the result on Alexander, who has been a pivotal figure for the Clarets in recent times and now captains the side.
“How many games has he won for us?” said Jensen.
“It doesn’t matter, we didn’t lose the game. We missed a penalty but these things happen.
“He just cracks on with it and he’s probably going to score another 50 from now on.
“There’s no grudge about the miss whatsoever. We know that he is probably more disappointed than anybody else.
“We know he will step up again, and we know he will put it in the net next time.”
Burnley’s next match is at home to Hull tomorrow night – a side Alexander scored four times against last season, three from the spot.
The holding midfielder also scored two penalties on Bristol City’s last visit to Turf Moor two seasons ago, as the Clarets secured their place in the play-offs, and boss Brian Laws said: “It becomes a formality when Grezza gets a penalty that we expect a goal.
“I think it shocked everybody, even himself.
“He’s missed his first one for Burnley, but he’s got a phenomenal record that was maybe always going to come to an end at some stage.
“It wasn’t the goalkeeper who made the save, it was unfortunately just the wrong execution.
“But he’ll be the first one out there to practise again as he normally does, and if we get another penalty he’ll be the first one on it.
“That might have been the catalyst to kick us on, who knows, but I certainly won’t blame him for missing a penalty.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here