Corona keeper’s the hero

BLACKPOOL goalkeeper Chris Maxwell returned from Covid-19 to become their FA Cup penalty shootout hero against West Brom. Maxwell saved spot-kicks from Kyle Edwards, Darnell Furlong and Matheus Pereira having been off for a week over Christmas and missing two games after suffering with the illness. ‘It was awful. I was lying in bed for three days, not only feeling bad because a few symptoms hit me hard but also missing football,’ he said.

‘It was nice to come through it and be back in the fold. The win was no more than we deserved. We were excellent throughout and were certainly the better team making chances.

‘We didn’t care that we were up against Premier League opposition. We created more pressure.’

Maxwell, 30, is also Blackpool’s captain and boss Neil Critchley was quick to praise his all-round contribution after they won 3-2 on penalties after holding Sam Allardyce’s side to a 2-2 draw.

Critchley said: ‘After our Accrington game Chris wasn’t feeling too good and missed 10 days’ training. He wasn’t great and for him to produce that sort of performance in his first game back speaks volumes for his character.

‘He is a leader and that is why he’s captain. I thought his save from Kyle Edwards in extra-time to take us to penalties was a top save.’

OUR No 1: Blackpool keeper Maxwell is mobbed for his shootout heroics, to give Allardyce (left) a headache