Thursday Sep 29 2005 13:37
Hartlepool United boss Neale Cooper was delighted by the way young goalkeeper Jim Provett reacted to being thrown into Wednesday's Carling Cup clash against Sheffield Wednesday.
Cooper wasn't entirely satisfied with the performance of first choice keeper Anthony Williams in Saturday's 4-3 win at Peterborough United and decided to hand Provett the chance to prove himself against Wednesday.
The 20-year-old responded by producing a string of fine saves, culminating with keeping out Dean Smith's penalty in the shoot-out to guide his team into the second round.
"We gave Jim his chance and he took it really well," Cooper told the club's official website.
"We are not saying that Taff (Williams) was to blame for all the goals on Saturday but we felt it was the right time to give Jim his opportunity.
"He made four or five excellent saves and I would say it is one of the best goalkeeping performances I have seen."
Provett will be hoping to keep his place for Pools' first home game of the season against Tranmere Rovers on Saturday.
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