Hearts striker John Sutton: Rab Douglas used inside knowledge when he saved my penalty at Tynecastle

3 Nov 2012 00:01
By Gavin Berry

JAMBOS ace Sutton has revealed how a spell with Rab Douglas at Wycombe came back to haunt him as the Dundee keeper made a tremendous save to deny him two months ago.
Hearts striker John Sutton's penalty was saved by Rab Douglas Hearts striker John Sutton's penalty was saved by Rab Douglas

JOHN SUTTON paid the penalty for daily spot-kick sessions with Rab Douglas at Wycombe when the veteran keeper saved his effort to help earn Dundee their only win this season.

But the Hearts striker is desperate to outsmart his old team-mate if he gets the chance again when the Gorgie men travel to Dens Park today looking for revenge for that defeat.

Sutton missed again from 12 yards in midweek but was lucky it didn’t cost the Jambos as they came out on top in a shoot-out victory over Dundee United to book a Scottish Communities League Cup semi-final place.

John McGlynn’s men return to Tayside this afternoon on SPL business as the only team to have lost to Barry Smith’s bottom dogs at Tynecastle in September.

Douglas was in inspired form between the sticks for the Dark Blues that day with a string of fine saves – the most important coming in the first half when he kept out Sutton’s penalty.

But asked if he’d be put on the spot again, the 28-year-old Jambo said: “I’d still take one, no doubt.

“I’ve said to a couple of boys in the dressing room, I was at Wycombe and used to practise penalties with big Rab every day. It’s always easier in training against Rab than in the match, when you have a pressurised situation.

“It’s more difficult on match-day and I think keepers are always more up for it during a match than in training – and much sharper when the pressure is on and the crowd is behind them.

“I felt the one against Dundee earlier in the season was hit well, Rab made a really good save.

“He said to me after the miss ‘You used to always go to the left’. But he obviously guessed I was going to change and made the save.

“Sometimes it is a case of bluff and double-bluff and keepers have all the video analysis on hand to help them out these days as well. You just need to hope you can outfox them.

“Rab was there for a few months at Wycombe, we had a bit of a goalkeeping crisis at the time and brought in a couple of new faces. I don’t think he played too much because we also brought in Frankie Fielding, who plays for Derby now and has been in a few England squads.

“But Rab was brilliant to have about the place, he’s a great guy.

“Normally when goalies get older they struggle to get down to things but that has not been the case with big Rab.”

Sutton was a team-mate of current Dens Park boss Barry Smith when the Dark Blues suffered the agony of relegation seven years ago – and a win for the Jambos today would push them further towards the top-flight trapdoor again.

The Englishman said: “My memories of my time at Dundee are a bit mixed. I was very young at the time but managed to score two winning goals in Dundee derbies which was incredible.

“But the over-riding memory is the feeling when we were relegated. It was not pleasant at all. I played with Barry Smith in that team and although I was only on loan, I was very upset for people like him who had been at the club for such a long time. It was devastating.

“I think Dundee are a decent side and when we played against them they were certainly difficult to break down – and it helps to have Rab in goal.

“He is a great keeper and a top shot-stopper. Also, when I have been on the pitch with him and against him, the way he organises the team and leads from the back has a massive influence.”

Sutton was given a rare start in the win over Dundee United on Wednesday as boss John McGlynn went with two strikers, and the frontman enjoyed playing
alongside Callum Paterson.

He said: “I’m not sure whether it necessarily matters that there is two strikers – it’s about whether you are winning games and, as a striker, getting chances and getting shots on goal. That is the priority.

“It’s not always about the formation, it is about how you play.”

Taken from the Daily Record