I’m penalty-saving expert with secret plan.. West Ham won’t put me off in Carabao Cup shootout after Sheff Utd dark arts
LINCOLN keeper Lukas Jensen has warned West Ham not to try any dirty tricks to stop him producing another heroic Carabao Cup performance.
The Hammers travel to Sincil Bank on Wednesday for a third-round tie against the League One Imps, who have already taken a Premier League scalp this season.
Lincoln keeper Lukas Jensen is a specialist in saving penalties
Jubilant scenes as Lincoln players celebrate with hero keeper Lukas Jensen
Jensen kept a clean sheet before starring in the penalty shootout win at Sheffield United in the last round by saving two penalties … but only after Blades keeper Adam Davies tried to ruin his masterplan.
The Imps ace, 24, told SunSport: “I had all the names of the Sheffield United players and which way they usually shoot on a piece of paper wrapped around my water bottle.
“But their keeper kicked it into the stands so I couldn’t see!
“Luckily, though, my goalkeeper coach Scott Fry and the other goalie Jordan Wright were there to let me know instead.
“I ended up saving the ones from Louis Marsh and Benie Traore and then Jon Egan put their last penalty over the bar to give us a 3-2 win.
“The Sheffield United goalkeeper coach came to me afterwards to apologise and say he was the one who had instructed for the bottle to be kicked into the stands.
“He told me the story about Brice Samba. He had done the same as me with the notes on the water bottle a couple of seasons ago and saved three penalties for Nottingham Forest against them in the Championship play-offs— so they didn’t want a repeat.
“West Ham can do what they like tonight as it won’t affect me. I have a good penalty technique. My size being 6ft 6in helps me, I can look intimidating for someone about to take a kick.
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“If I look as big as possible and choose the right side when they shoot, I’ll have a great opportunity to save them. And to be honest I don’t really practice them. I’m natural.”
Jensen signed for Lincoln in the summer after four years on the books at Burnley.
And it is no surprise he has developed into a good keeper, given he worked with three England internationals Nick Pope, Tom Heaton and Joe Hart during his time at Turf Moor.
Also he worked alongside Northern Ireland stopper Bailey Peacock-Farrell and Welsh ace Wayne Hennessey.
So it was no wonder that he did not get much of a look-in at Burnley, apart from being on the bench for three Premier League games and being involved in the squad on a dozen occasions.
Nick Pope was a huge help for Jensen at Burnley
Joe Hart gave Jensen plenty of tips when they were together at Turf Moor
He said: “I enjoyed working with Nick because we’re similar in size. I could learn everything from him.
“From how he moves in the goal and it’s the same with Joe because he’s a big guy too. I’m only a few centimetres taller than him.
“They both told me loads and I’m grateful for everything they’ve taught me because although it seems a bit stupid when they tell you something at that moment, a few months or years later you can use it.
“They also taught me things like how to talk to people. I was new at the time coming to England from Denmark. So it was how to interact, how to greet people when you meet them. It was simple stuff like that.
“But going into goalkeeping specifics, it was how to move around in goal, how to deal with certain situations, all that kind of stuff. All very technical.
I have a good penalty technique. My size being 6ft 6in helps me, I can look intimidating for someone about to take a kick.
LUKAS JENSEN
“And I used every moment of it when I went out on loans because I was meeting new staff, new team-mates and that has been very helpful to me.”
Jensen had loans with Bolton, Kórdrengir in Iceland and Carlisle before his breakthrough campaign last season at Accrington where he made 29 League One starts and six in cup competitions.
And he saved two penalties AGAINST Lincoln in the Papa Johns Trophy, which brought him to their attention.
Jensen said: “I had a chance to stay at Burnley for another year but would’ve only been loaned out again so we decided it was best I leave and here I am now at Lincoln.
“We’ve got a talented squad who can achieve things this season. Against West Ham, we’ll try to get through the first half hour and then anything is possible.
Lukas Jensen is getting ready for a huge game against West Ham
“I’ve a lot of respect for Lukasz Fabianski. If he plays tomorrow, I’ll certainly be wanting to chat with him after all the great years he’s had in the Premier League and with Poland.
“But if it goes to penalties, I’m going to be hoping to be the happier keeper at the end!”
