Charlton’s Scott Fraser loved pressure of taking match-winning penalty to clinch EFL Cup win over Stevenage
Scott Fraser relished the pressure of taking the match-winning penalty in Charlton’s EFL Cup victory at Stevenage, writes Richard Cawley.
The Scot put his side through on Tuesday night after Joe Wollacott had saved Jake Taylor’s attempt.
And Fraser celebrated in front of the home fans who had been giving abuse to Sean Clare throughout the third round tie,
“I was buzzing,” said Fraser. “I said before their third penalty that Jojo will save one and I’ll score the winner. I’m over the moon with it.
“I did it at MK when we played Burnley and Eastleigh, I scored penalties in those.
“We’ve got a good dressing room and they [the Stevenage supporters] were battering Seany the whole game. So a couple of the boys were saying: ‘If we win this, lets give the fans it’. Walking up to the penalty I was thinking more about the celebration, so I had to regroup when I put the ball on the spot.
“I’ve got my little routine run. All my penalties at MK, I’d wait for the goalkeeper to move. Obviously I’ve got a preferred side – nine times out of 10 I’m fortunate they go early and it makes my mind up for me.
“I’ve no doubt if this game had been at The Valley it would still have been tough, but it would have been a different game.
“I’ve been this team, in terms of making it hard for clubs who come and are expected to win. At times we controlled the game really well, we got on the ball and got our patterns of play going.
“Maybe a couple of months ago we’d have struggled in that game more – it shows how far we have come.”
PICTURE: KYLE ANDREWS