The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Keeper would prefer peace to penalty drama
Dundee United goalkeeper Harry Lewis insists he has no wish to be a penalty hero when the Tangerines take on league leaders Dunfermline today.
Just a little over a year ago, his predecessor Cammy Bell won worldwide fame when he saved three spotkicks in one half against the Pars.
The news even reached Southampton, where the then 18-year-old watched the video footage of Bell’s fantastic achievement on YouTube.
Twelve months on and Lewis heads to East End Park as United’s first-choice goalie, having moved on loan from the Saints in the summer.
He revealed that as great as it was, he has no interest in trying to repeat Bell’s feat and would much prefer a quiet afternoon.
He is unlikely to get much peace, though, considering the scoring form the Pars have been in this season on their way to the top of the league.
Lewissaid:“Irememberreadingabout Cammy saving those three penalties against Dunfermline at the time. I even watched the clip on YouTube.
“Hopefully, we won’t give away three penalties this time! It was an incredible effort from him but, seriously, I would settle for simply getting a clean sheet.
“Someone said we had the best defence in the league (jointly with the Pars). I didn’t realise that but that’s great news!
“We know Dunfermline are flying but we have put the work in this week so that we are in the best possible condition to take them on.
“We are all well aware of their position in the league, their recent form and our recent form.
“We know it’s going to be a tough game but I think we’ve given ourselves a good chance.
“I know they have been turning a few teams over but, listen, we’re no pushovers ourselves.
“I think we have been hard to break down, especially since the St Mirren defeat.
“We had an uncharacteristic off day and were turned over a bit by them but I think we’ve put a lot of work in since to become more solid.
“We have been compact and limited teams to few chances.
“So I have not been busy in the last couple of weeks and that’s because of the lads in front of me who have been playing so well. “Hopefully, it stays that way.” The Tangerines have had a real boost thanks to the performance and result against Morton last week – a 2-1 win that could have been more comfortable.
Lewis confirmed that there has been a feel-good factor in training, adding: I think winning games brings a different atmosphere to the place. Morale is a lot higher.
“I firmly believe that the Morton win will lead us to other wins and that we can go on a bit of a roll. “We want to push on. “This is a massive game and last Saturday’s result was the ideal preparation for it.”
Lewis, 19, will certainly relish the redhot atmosphere and large attendance, despite his tender years.
The chirpy Englishman said: “Games like this, when there is a bit of pressure on you, are exactly what I signed up for when I came up to United on loan.
“We said before the game on Saturday that if we won that and won this week then we would probably be top of the league and that that’s where we would stay for the rest of the season.
“It’s not always plain sailing or works out how you hope it will but, realistically, that’s where we need to be and where we want to be. We know what is expected of us.
“I knew I was coming into the club that was expected to go up.
“We have had a couple of results recently that haven’t been good enough.
“I could stand here and make excuses or hide behind clichés but that is what it has come down to – we haven’t been good enough.
“We need to turn that around if we are going to win the league but it’s only September and there is no need to panic.
“The season doesn’t finish until May so we have plenty of time to get ourselves back on top.
“A win this weekend, though, would make a big statement.”