Gaffer addresses penalty decision taking situation

Glenn Murray taking the ball of Nick Blackman raised a few eyebrows when we were awarded a penalty at Hillsborough on Saturday, more so when he missed it.

The on-loan Palace striker had a conversation with Blackman about who should take the spot kick, with Murray winning the debate, despite Nick scoring a penalty against Millwall. The miss did cause some uproar about who should have taken it, but the gaffer took a laid-back view.

Quoted by the Reading Post, Adkins said: ‘I have in the past dedicated a penalty taker but I have also let the players who are confident to do it. Sometimes there’s only one penalty taker on the pitch. We’ve actually got two or three like Blackman, Murray and Simon Cox.’

‘We’ve got plenty of players who have the confidence. Do we in the future designate one? But maybe that person is not quite as confident at the time. We’ve got grown men out there who can have a conversation and make a decision. Whoever put that ball down has taken the responsibility.’

I don’t think you can always have a set penalty taker, unless they have an outstanding record from the spot. Both Blackman and Murray have taken penalties in their career, so considering Murray won it, it looked likely he’d take it. Who can guarantee Blackman would have scored it anyway?