I’ve been bullied off free-kicks before by lads who fancied themselves as the next Ronaldo – Charlton’s Andrew Shinnie
BY LOUIS MENDEZ
He may have found himself down the pecking order early on, but Charlton’s Andrew Shinnie will now expect to be first choice when it comes to taking free-kicks after his fine strike against Oxford United.
The Luton Town loanee arrowed a set-piece beyond Simon Eastwood to double the Addicks’ lead just before the interval on Tuesday evening and says he’ll now have more of a case when it comes to arguments over who gets to take the next one that comes along.
“I’ve been bullied off them for the last few games,” explained Shinnie.
“Big [Omar] Bogle has taken a couple and hit the wall every time so I said I’m having this one. I just tried to whip it back-post. The keeper probably should have maybe done a little bit better bit I just tried to whip it on target and into the far corner and it went into the back of the net.
“I always fancy it but sometimes I do get bullied off it by other boys who think they are Ronaldo. That one I just thought I’m having this. It was at a weird angle, I couldn’t make my mind up whether to go over the wall.
“Goalies always gamble and always take a step towards the wall, gambling that it’s going over the wall. I don’t know if he didn’t really see it in time. I just whipped it as hard as I could for the far corner. 2-0 was a great lead to have.
“Stupidly I let the big man take one second-half and he hit the wall again. I fancied it. [Jake] Forster-Caskey had a few good ones in the Wigan game and he actually scored the winner. Today, I said the first free-kick, I’m on it, I’m having it, I fancied it. Luckily it went in.”
The Aberdeen-born midfielder is on a season-long loan at The Valley from Championship outfit Luton Town – and he said he jumped at the chance to sign for the South Londoners.
Shinnie explained: “I’ve played here a few times. It’s a great club. I’ve played here when the fans have been allowed in and the place was rocking. It’s a difficult place to come and a good atmosphere, a great club.
“I felt fortunate really that when I wasn’t getting much game time at Luton, this was an option. As soon as it was an option, I just thought that’s a great chance to me to go to a great club. I’ve come down here and fitted in with the boys brilliantly in the changing room.
“We’ve hit the ground running since I’ve come in so I’m just grateful for the opportunity to come and play for a club like this.”
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