Williams saves highest praise for Eastwood (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Williams saves highest praise for Eastwood

7:30am Thursday 12th November 2009

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Simon Eastwood was today labelled the “number one shot stopper” after his latest round of penalty-saving heroics.

The on-loan keeper has blocked five spot-kicks in two shoot-outs as City made it through to the last eight of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.

And Steve Williams led his team-mates in heaping praise on the 20-year-old.

Williams, who sunk the decisive penalty against Port Vale, said Eastwood was the real hero.

He said: “Credit to Easty for keeping us in there more than anyone. He is the number one shot-stopper without a doubt.

“What more could he do after saving three penalties? That’s why we didn’t want to let him down.

“He’s had to come through a lot and he’s doing really well for us.”

Williams had been pencilled in to take the sixth spot-kick but skipper Zesh Rehman pulled rank, leaving his fellow centre half to step up for the decisive seventh.

Williams admitted: “It’s a long walk from the centre circle to the penalty spot when all eyes are on you.

“But I wasn’t overly nervous. There’s less pressure taking the winning penalty than one you have to score to keep us in it.

“I knew were I was going. I looked at the ball and just hit it as hard as I could - there was no skill involved.”

Williams felt the experience from beating Notts County in the same fashion certainly played its part when the shoot-out began.

“It got us knowing that we can come through and beat teams on penalties.

“And Easty knew he could save the penalties after last time and that showed again. We were all confident.

“Maybe next time we’ll try to do the job in the 90 minutes. But we won’t mind if it goes to penalties again.”

Simon Ramsden and Gareth Evans were expected back in training today. Both could feature against leaders Bournemouth at the weekend.

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