Graham Poll: Cheating goalkeepers are real reason behind penalty misses

08 December 2009 02:13
You could dismiss the fact that only one penalty out of five in the Barclays Premier League was converted at the weekend as a football freak. [LNB]But, unless something is done about keeper movement and defenders' encroachment, it could become nearer the norm. [LNB]By moving, the keeper gives the penalty taker less to aim at and his forward momentum can be off-putting. [LNB] Off his line: Shay Given saves a penalty kick from Frank Lampard (left, hidden)[LNB]Law 14 (The Penalty Kick) states that the defending goalkeeper remains on his goal line, facing the kicker, between the goalposts until the ball has been kicked and all players other than the kicker must be at least 10 yards from the penalty mark. [LNB]The only keeper who stayed completely on his line at a penalty at the weekend was Matt Duke of Hull City, who failed to save John Carew's kick. [LNB]But five Hull defenders encroached, so, even if Duke had saved, the kick should have been retaken.[LNB] Saved: Aruna Dindane's penalty was kept out by Burnley goalkeeper Brian Jensen[LNB] At Fratton Park, Brian Jensen was clearly off his goal line as was Shay Given when saving Frank Lampard's spot kick. [LNB]To make matters worse for Chelsea, there were at least two City defenders who were well in the penalty area as Lampard struck his kick, one of them then cleared the ball away after Given had made his illegal save. [LNB]The laws also require the assistant referee to adjudicate goalkeeper movement from his line while the referee has to monitor encroachment. [LNB] How spot checks help Premier League keepers foil hot-shots like Lampard, Defoe and FabregasGRAHAM POLL: Why I was left with more questions than answers after the video trial at Manchester City's win over ChelseaJamie Redknapp's weekend watch: Chelsea's petulant side resurfacesAncelotti loses his cool as he points finger at ref Howard for two mistakes[LNB]  Explore more:People:John Carew, Shay Given, Brian Jensen, Graham Poll, Frank LampardPlaces:Fratton Park

Source: Daily_Mail