Defender Coll Donaldson has revealed the odd kick about in the park with his brothers over the summer has helped him play his part in Dundee United becoming League Cup penalty kings.
The Tangerines are on the verge of qualifying from the group stages and that’s in part down to the bonus points gained from shoot-out successes at Arbroath and Inverness Caley Thistle.
In all, they’ve had to take nine kicks and not one has even been close to being saved.
Donaldson has added to that tally with two emphatic strikes.
Unlike many players he doesn’t dread the shoot-outs but admits he actually enjoys them. He puts that down to practice and planning.
“I always feel confident from 12 yards, I just do. I will always volunteer and take responsibility and that’s not going to change,” said the 21-year-old.
“I play football throughout the summer with my brothers and we always hit penalties.
“I don’t usually miss so I don’t mind taking kicks if they’re needed in these League Cup ties.”
For him the key to success is simple — make up your mind early and, once you have, stick to the plan.
“I do always put them the same way. I’ve done that twice now, so I might have to change if there’s any more because teams might have worked out what I do.
“But the big thing is just picking your spot and sticking to that.
“I go round the boys and ask them where they’re going to go because I feel the chances are if you make your mind up, stick to that and then hit it where you planned to, you are going to score.
“It’s not complicated. As long as you stay with what you’ve decided when you walk up to take the kick you should be OK.
“It’s if you start changing your mind you’ll miss.
“That’s it, there is no secret to pens.
“You have to step up and put the ball where you said you would.”
On top of the two points United took from their weekend trip to the Highlands, Donaldson accepts the performance against what was strong Premiership opposition must bode well for what lies ahead in the Championship.
Not that he would categorise the draw as anything approaching a shock result.
“We went up to Inverness twice last season and played well,” he added. “In the first game we were ahead and conceded a goal right at the end.
“Then we came up just before the end of the season, played well again and won, so we felt confident going into Saturday.
“It was about going up there and playing the way we wanted to play and after the first 15 minutes we did.
“I actually felt we were playing very well when they scored the opener right before half-time.
“It was disappointing because we had worked hard on defending set-pieces because that’s where they’re strong and we conceded from a long throw.
“The important thing was the way we responded and we came out for the second half and immediately scored a very good goal.
“It was still a good result for us. Inverness is always a real physical test and you have to go and match them.
“I felt we did that and that has to give us confidence for what lies ahead in the Championship because there are not many tougher places to go than up there.
“Before the league starts we have Dunfermline on Sunday in the last group game.
“We have given ourselves a great chance to qualify for the next stage.
“That’s our aim and if we can win that one, we’ll go into the opening Championship match with Queen of the South feeling confident.”
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