Keith Andrews has launched a passionate defence of Dango Ouattara after the Brentford forward’s failed Panenka attempt in the FA Cup shootout defeat to West Ham. The Bees boss labelled the persecution of players who miss penalties as “disgusting”.
Ouattara saw his chipped effort easily saved by Alphonse Areola as West Ham won 5-3 on penalties following a 2-2 draw at the London Stadium on Monday night. Jarrod Bowen and Igor Thiago had each scored twice in normal time.
Andrews insisted he was not annoyed by the miss and praised Ouattara’s courage. “It takes unbelievable courage on a stage like that to take a penalty,” he said. “I despise the culture around players that have missed penalty kicks – national heroes ridiculed, persecuted. I think it’s disgusting.”
The Brentford manager confirmed Ouattara practises that technique regularly and will receive full support from the club. “If it goes in everyone’s raving about him,” Andrews added. “Dango will get the absolute support he needs from myself and everybody attached to it.”
West Ham will now face Leeds at home in the quarter-finals after Konstantinos Mavropanos converted the decisive spot-kick.
