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EXCLUSIVE: How Sergei Baltacha helped St Johnstone star Dimitar Mitov become penalty kick hero

The former Perth great was a mentor of the Bulgarian goalkeeper when he arrived in England several years ago.

Sergei Baltacha helped mentor Dimitar Mitov.
Sergei Baltacha helped mentor Dimitar Mitov. Images: SNS.

Dimitar Mitov was a penalty kick Premiership hero for St Johnstone.

And McDiarmid Park great, Sergei Baltacha, is delighted that he may have played a part in his old pupil’s and old club’s dramatic last day top-flight survival story.

When Baltacha worked with a young Mitov at Charlton Athletic’s academy a few years ago, the former Soviet Union international made sure penalties were a training ground priority.

The Bulgarian international keeping out Theo Bair’s first half spot-kick at Fir Park was arguably the defining moment of Saints’ head-to-head battle with Ross County to stay up.

The St Johnstone players celebrate Dimitar Mitov's penalty save.
The St Johnstone players celebrate Dimitar Mitov’s penalty save. Image: Shutterstock.

It was double delight for Baltacha, with his mind going back to all the penalties Mitov faced under his watch in London.

“It was brilliant that Dimitar made a penalty save to help keep St Johnstone up,” Baltacha told Courier Sport.

“I know how good he is at saving penalties – he did it to help us win a national title.

“We won three finals and Dimitar saved two in one of them.

“We practiced penalties a lot.

“After training sessions, I’d do a proper penalty shoot-out with two teams to try and make it as close to the real thing as possible.

“That’s what we did when I was a player with my club and my country. I won semi-finals and finals on penalties. You have to practice.

“I’m glad all that practice Dimitar has done has helped!”

Premier League potential

Baltacha was Mitov’s under-18 coach at Charlton, with the 66-year-old described as “an incredible person first and foremost and a real role model”.

When Mitov signed for Saints from Cambridge United last summer, Baltacha told Perth fans to enjoy watching their goalkeeper while they had him.

Sergei Baltacha was a coach at Charlton Athletic.
Sergei Baltacha was a coach at Charlton Athletic. Image: Shutterstock.

Now, unsurprisingly, given the tremendous season Mitov enjoyed, he hasn’t changed his mind.

“Dimitar has shown in Scotland what I knew,” said Baltacha. “He is a very good goalkeeper with an excellent attitude.

“He is definitely good enough to play in the English Premier League.”

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