Jordan Henderson distraught after penalty shoot-out drama

Oct 31 2009 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

IT was a night Jordan Henderson will struggle to forget for all the wrong reasons, but the 19-year-old has grown in Steve Bruce's estimation after missing a crucial penalty for Sunderland this week.

The midfielder took the Black Cats’ fourth spot kick in Tuesday’s League Cup shoot-out against Aston Villa and, like Andy Reid and Lorik Cana, saw it saved by Brad Guzan.

Henderson’s miss prompted a mass walkout from the Stadium Light, with reams of home fans not prepared to wait the few extra seconds it would take Ashley Young to convert his kick and knock Sunderland out of the competition.

But after a disappointing performance at Birmingham City three days earlier, Bruce was more impressed with Henderson’s man-of-the-match showing in the previous 120 minutes, and his willingness to shoulder the responsibility from 12 yards.

“The kid was distraught,” he revealed. “It was probably the biggest game he has ever played in and he probably had the best game he can remember for some time – but he missed a penalty and is absolutely heartbroken.

“On Wednesday morning, I got hold of him and said, ‘Hey, that is part of football, you will learn from it.’ Since then he has bounced in and is looking forward to West Ham.

“He has to forget about it and at least he had the courage when I asked him to take a penalty.

“I was more pleased with his performance than disappointed at him for missing a penalty.

“I think Jordan was disappointed with his performance against Birmingham and for a young kid to respond the way he did, I’m very, very pleased. He’s had an excellent start to the season, he’s only 19.”

As someone who used to take penalties for Manchester United, Bruce is no stranger to the emotions involved.

“Let me tell you, I missed two in a season for Man U,” he recalled. “One knocked us out of the FA Cup, the other KO’d us out of the Uefa Cup.

“I remember Martin Edwards (the chairman) coming up to me, tapping me on the shoulder and saying, ‘You have just cost us £10m, thanks very much Steve.’

“A certain Frenchman (Eric Cantona) said to me, ‘I think it is time I took the penalties’. He took them as if he was playing on the park!”