Cameron Carter-Vickers has admitted that before Saturday, he’d never seen goalkeeper Joe Hart miss a penalty.
There was an overwhelming sense of shock among the Celtic fans when the Englishman stepped up at Hampden at the weekend for a decisive spot-kick.
He rattled the post but soon atoned for his error a few minutes later when he saved Killian Phillips’ attempt.
Despite missing from 12 yards, Hart admitted he’d “100%” take a penalty again, and Carter-Vickers defended his record from the spot post-match on Saturday.
The American colossus revealed that the team knew the 37-year-old would step up. He said: [Football Scotland] “We knew he was going to take one. We practise them in training and I’ve actually never seen him miss before.
“When he stepped up, I thought it would be a good fairy-tale for him, in his last season and hopefully scoring a winning penalty in the semi-final.
“It wasn’t meant to be but then he ends up saving the penalty which wins us the game, which is all good.”
As the league season closes out over the next few weeks, Hart won’t have any opportunities to retake a penalty, but he could do so in next month’s Scottish Cup final against Rangers.
The showpiece event will mark the end of the ‘keeper’s illustrious career but before then, there is a wealth of football to be played.
Celtic have five mini cup finals to go before they return to Hampden next month for the last game of a rollercoaster of a season.
