Wayne Rooney dismissed Keith Andrews’ complaints about Brentford’s injury-time penalty failure at the Amex.
And he delivered a telling punchline about how he coped with such a test.
Andrews was unhappy with the delay before his striker Igor Thiago was able to step up and attempt to save a point from the spot.
The Brazilian had scored earlier in the game as he sent Bart Verbruggen the wrong way.
He went to the same side with his second effort but it was weakly struck and nowhere near the corner.
Verbruggen read his intentions and produced his first penalty save for the Seagulls.
Andrews spoke abut the delay in his various interviews with broadcast and print media.
He told his post-match press conference: “It is difficult for penalty takers and I am not just saying today but in general from the time it is given until they actually take it and all the shenanigans that goes on in between.”
A similar reply was shown on BBC TV’s Match Of The Day.
Asked whether Andrews had a valid point, Rooney said: “A little bit but I think as players you should be able to keep your focus.
“I had it a few years ago against Blackburn and it took me five or six minutes before I could take a penalty.
“I just took myself away from everyone and kept my composure.”
Former England goalkeeper Rob Green praised Verbruggen’s save but felt Thiago made it too easy for him.
Green said: “It’s a good save but you are looking at him to say if you are going to do the stutter and the slow run-up, if he has already gone you have got to have the ability to change it.
“The whole point of having the stutter and the slow run-up is you’re waiting for the goalkeeper.
“He waits for the goalkeeper, realises and still can’t change it in time
“That’s why it is such a poor penalty, a badly hit one.
“Whether the time took its toll, the occasion, the timing of the penalty itself, but you look at it and say as a keeper that’s your moment that’s your time.”
Asked what happened with his own delayed penalty, Rooney said with a laugh: “I put it in the top corner. We won the league that day as well!”
