MX23RW : Saturday, May 4 14:44:57| >> :120:3678:3678:

Sam Johnstone: 'Penalty rules unfair on goalkeepers'

Sam Johnstone: 'Penalty rules unfair on goalkeepers'
© Reuters
The 27-year-old West Brom stopper feels it is now harder for keepers to save spot-kicks.

West Brom's Sam Johnstone claims the current penalty rules are not fair on goalkeepers and wants them changed.

The 27-year-old has saved almost 25 per cent of the spot-kicks he has faced in his career but feels it is now harder for keepers.

From the start of last season they need to have at least part of one foot on the goal line and are also not allowed to stand behind the line.

Johnstone initially saved Bruno Fernandes' penalty at Manchester United last month before it was retaken after he was fractionally off his line and the midfielder scored to condemn the Baggies to a 1-0 defeat.

He is unhappy penalty takers are allowed to jump and stutter in their run-ups and wants any antics banned.

"If you want us to stay on our line, surely they can't just do what they want when taking the penalty. It has to work both ways," said Johnstone, ahead of Sunday's visit of Crystal Palace.

"Just run up and hit it – you're still favourite. I think that would probably just stop all the messing about with waiting, if I'm off my line, retaking it and stuff like that. Just run and hit it, the goalie stays on his line and that's that.

"It's difficult to keep your foot on the line and you can't start behind the goal, you have to stand on it and just dive sideways. It's difficult. It's just making it easier for the taker to score.

"Take the one at Man United, yes, I came off my line but you need a trigger as a goalkeeper to go and that jump makes you go but you're too early and off your line.

"It just makes it more difficult for the goalkeepers to save it."

Johnstone has stopped eight of the 35 penalties he has faced since making his debut on loan at Scunthorpe from Manchester United in 2011.

His 43 Premier League saves are also only second to Newcastle's Karl Darlow's 44 this season.

It has given him the confidence to believe he can break into the England squad, despite Albion's struggles leaving them third bottom.

"Gareth Southgate came out and he said (Jordan) Pickford is his number one. Pickford is a very good goalkeeper, so is (Nick) Pope and Dean Henderson," said the former England Under-20 international.

"I want to be in the thick of that as well and I want to be pushing them and be on the minds of the England set-up.

"I have been there as a kid and now I am in the Premier League playing and I want to get into that set-up and keep pushing.

"There are a lot of good English goalkeepers around and it is not going to be easy but it is something I want to do and it would be a dream come true.

"Pickford has never let England down so it's not going to be an easy thing to do but it's on my mind to try to achieve."

ID:425159: cacheID:425159:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:3910:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
West Bromwich Albion manager Slaven Bilic pictured in November 2020
Read Next:
Bilic: 'Johnstone should be in England contention'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CLeicester CityLeicester463141189414897
3Leeds UnitedLeeds462791081433890
4Southampton462691187632487
5West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom4621121370472375
6Norwich CityNorwich4621101579641573
7Hull City461913146860870
8Middlesbrough46209177162969
9Coventry CityCoventry4617131670591164
10Preston North EndPreston46189195667-1163
11Bristol City461711185351262
12Cardiff CityCardiff46195225370-1762
13Millwall461611194555-1059
14Swansea CitySwansea461512195965-657
15Watford461317166161056
16Sunderland46168225254-256
17Stoke CityStoke461511204960-1156
18Queens Park RangersQPR461511204758-1156
19Blackburn RoversBlackburn461411216074-1453
20Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds46158234468-2453
21Plymouth ArgylePlymouth461312215970-1151
RBirmingham CityBirmingham461311225065-1550
23Huddersfield TownHuddersfield46918194877-2945
RRotherham UnitedRotherham46512293789-5227


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!