On a night of high drama on Monday, Keith Andrews’ Brentford were eliminated from the FA Cup by West Ham on penalties.
The two London sides have enjoyed contrasting Premier League seasons thus far, with Brentford soaring in 7th and West Ham battling to avoid relegation.
Recommended
However, the Hammers were full value for their draw after 90 minutes, despite another impressive performance from Andrews’ side in forcing extra time.
Jarrod Bowen would twice put West Ham ahead before a brace of equalisers from Igor Thiago; both men’s second goals coming from the spot.
That was an omen of things to come, as a dour extra-time period led to a dramatic shootout.
The standard of penalty taking from West Ham was off the charts, and there was little Irish goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher could do about any of their five spot kicks.
By contrast, Brentford were let down by a disastrous penalty from Dango Ouattara (from 3:00 in the below video).
Ouattara attempted a Panenka chip, but he was read perfectly by Alphonse Areola, with the West Ham goalkeeper comfortably catching the ball.
The Brentford star trudged back to the centre circle, having been made a fool by the Hammers’ shot stopper. In such a high stakes environment, to miss a penalty in that manner was seen as unforgivable by many viewers and pundits.
Thankfully for Ouattara, though, not by his manager Keith Andrews, who would mount a staunch defence of the 24-year-old in his post-match press conference.
READ HERE: Brentford’s Brazilian Star Was Baffled After Caoimhín Kelleher Introduced Him To Cork Hurling
READ HERE: Martin O’Neill Singles Out Ireland Star For Praise Amid Old Firm Chaos
Keith Andrews defends Brentford star
Speaking to the media after his side’s FA Cup exit, Keith Andrews said that Dango Ouattara had his “absolute support” despite his disastrous attempt at a Panenka against West Ham.
“I think the easiest thing for a footballer to do is not take a penalty,” Andrews said.
I think it takes unbelievable courage on a stage like that to take a penalty.
It’s probably the first time I’ve ever spoken about penalty kicks and people that miss them. I despise the culture around players that have missed penalty kicks. I think you know the ones I’m talking about, national heroes that have done it – ridiculed, persecuted. I think it’s disgusting.
It takes serious courage to do that. He practices that technique a lot. [If it] goes in, everyone’s raving about him.
Dango will get the absolute support he needs from myself and everybody attached to it.
It’s yet another example of Andrews’ man-management style, with the Irishman having employed similar tactics after Caoimhín Kelleher’s unfortunate blunder against Chelsea in January.
Andrews had been moments away from subbing off Ouattara with Brentford trailing 2-1 in the dying moments of normal time, before his cross led to the foul which set up Igor Thiago’s equalising penalty.
West Ham now progress to the quarter-finals, where they will face fellow Premier League side Leeds in three weeks.
Keith Andrews and Brentford will dust themselves off before Monday night’s Premier League clash with Wolves on home soil.
SEE ALSO: Barry Keoghan Was Always Taken Aback By One Habit From Childhood Neighbour Troy Parrott
