Wimbledon goalkeeper reveals he had done his 'homework' before saving Hoskins' penalty

Stoppage-time spot-kick stop denied Cobblers crucial point
Nikola Tzanev.Nikola Tzanev.
Nikola Tzanev.

AFC Wimbledon goalkeeper Nikola Tzanev thanked the club's video analysis team for doing their homework before he kept out Sam Hoskins stoppage-time penalty on Saturday.

Trailing 1-0 after Joe Pigott's late goal, Cobblers were handed a lifeline deep into stoppage-time when Peter Kioso was tripped inside the penalty box.

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But Hoskins, who had scored all of his previous six penalties for Northampton, could not convert as Tzanev guessed right and kept out the spot-kick with the very last touch of the game.

Tzanev told Wimbledon's club website: “I have to say thanks to Tom Daws because he puts together a little goalkeeper analysis for us, so that’s really good, and Goncalo (Pinto, video analyst).

"We review every week the threat that other teams possess, and with Northampton it was a lot more long balls. We had gone through some of the penalties, so we had done our homework. A big thanks to the video analysis team.

“It was amazing, words cannot describe how I’m feeling right now! My heart was racing before the penalty. Just to be able to pull that out for the team, and to get the three points is massive for the situation. I think it will be a great game for us to build on now.

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“It felt like the ball hadn’t even gone off the pitch and the ref blew the whistle! It was an amazing moment, but it was just a pity the fans were not here.

“Apart from the penalty I didn’t have a shot to save. We have become more solid."

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