Penalty save right on cue as Kelly eyes Euros
TIMING is everything for Liam Kelly and in more ways than one. The Motherwell goalkeeper’s judicious intervention on Saturday helped settle a fiercelycontested match with St Mirren in the home side’s favour.
Kelly, armed beforehand with the appropriate information, outfoxed Jamie McGrath after Saints had been awarded a penalty, holding his nerve long enough before diving the right way to save. It was the first time McGrath had missed from 12 yards all season.
The on-loan Queen’s Park Rangers player’s stop gave Motherwell the impetus needed to go on to claim a first victory over St Mirren in six attempts and Devante Cole’s scrappy second-half goal delivered. Kelly was glad to have played his part.
“He’s obviously a brilliant penalty taker and I don’t think he’s missed many,” said Kelly of McGrath.
“I need to give a big shout out to my goalkeeping coach Craig Hinchcliffe and Ross Clarkson, who does our analysis, as they sent me the work over.
“McGrath is such a difficult one to gauge as he doesn’t pick a side. He waits on you to move and decides after that so you have to stand your ground for as long as you can.
“Eberechi Eze, who is now at Crystal Palace, did the same at Queen’s Park Rangers and I did a lot of practice with him.
“So I took a lot of that training into the match and I’m delighted it helped the team get the win.”
Kelly has not given up on pushing his way into Steve Clarke’s plans for this summer’s Euros and the penalty save will not do his cause any harm.
But the former Rangers trainee admits there is plenty of competition for the three goalkeeper’s jerseys.
“I’ve got a hope like every other player in Scotland but the quality of goalies in Scotland is just so good,” he acknowledged. “The three goalkeepers in there are brilliant and there are three other goalies that could come in before me.
“I’m just really happy here at Motherwell and if I keep my form going then hopefully the Scotland coach likes it.”
Motherwell manager Graham Alexander would like to retain Kelly beyond the end of his loan period and the goalkeeper did not rule it out.
“My future is still so unknown,” he said. “It’s on QPR’s terms as I’m their player for the next two years so they’ll decide.
“But I do know I want to play. If that’s at QPR, brilliant.
If Motherwell is an option then it’s something that I’d strongly consider as well.
“You want to be somewhere that you want appreciated and Motherwell feels like home for me. I’m a Glasgow boy and it’s 20 minutes away from here. It’s perfect and I’m loving it.”
St Mirren were the better side throughout the 90 minutes but a failure to convert their chances – penalty included – again proved to be their downfall. It has been the story of their season.
“We’re disappointed to lose it but it’s probably the best we’ve played all season, bar Celtic away and Dundee United away,” said goalkeeper Jak Alnwick. “We obviously missed the penalty which was unfortunate but Jamie has been incredible so far on them this season.
“We had so many chances and sometimes you just need that little bit of luck. Liam Kelly also made a few brilliant saves for Motherwell so fair play to him for that.
“I think their goal sums up our afternoon and probably our season as well. We had that many chances and were then punished by a bit of misfortune.”
I’m just really happy at Motherwell here and if I keep my form, then hopefully the Scotland coach likes it