Raith keeper Kevin Cuthbert admits that trying to save penalties is a lottery – even if you do have inside knowledge of the spot-kick taker’s preferred technique.
“Cat” pulled off an outstanding penalty stop from Dundee United’s Tony Andreu in Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Stark’s Park.
The two know one another from their time at Hamilton together and Cuthbert was fairly certain he could correctly judge which way the Frenchman would go.
He said: “I thought it was a penalty but everybody else in the dressing-room didn’t think so.
“I saved it anyway, so it doesn’t matter now.
“I saw Tony hit one against Hibs. I just know that straight run and without giving away too many secrets, it is the only way he can go unless he has extreme confidence just to roll it in and I know Tony does have that.
“I went early and I have got lucky.
“I think it has been a season of goalies making penalty saves. Cammy Bell’s saved loads, Sean Murdoch has saved a couple and I think Greg Fleming saved two in one game.
“So it just seems to be one of those seasons where the goalies are on top at penalties.
“But Tony’s the type of player who could step up and take a penalty next week no problem.
“You do try to put them off and I did that with Tony which is something I have never done before. I was moving about the goal and stuff.
“You try to get a wee bit of an edge but at the end of the day, it is a lottery and anything can happen.
“There was a great atmosphere and these are the games you want to play in.
“But overall, Dundee United are a great side and are on an excellent run.
“I thought it was an even game all the way through and I don’t think we can have any complaints about the draw in the end.”
