Dunfermline practised penalties the day before Dundee United spot-kick nightmare

Dunfermline winger Paul McMullan has revealed that the Pars practised penalties just 24 hours before missing a hat-trick of spot-kicks against Dundee United at the weekend.

McMullan took the third of them on Saturday, after United keeper Cammy Bell had stopped efforts from Gavin Reilly and Nicky Clark.

With the Tangerines going on to win 3-1, the on-loan Celtic man admitted there was disbelief in the Fifers’ ranks – especially since they had a rare dry run after training on Friday.

He said: “Funnily enough we don’t usually practise, but on Friday the boys stayed behind and practised our penalties.

“It is just one of those things, if you went home and told your mate that you missed three penalties against a team who had a player sent-off and you lose 3-1 he would not believe you.

“Everybody`s penalties were good in training but it just wasn’t our day.

“I have not taken one that he could have seen so I thought that I would just go for my usual side. Unfortunately for me and the team he saved it.”