Doncaster Rovers penalty hero on 1990 rewind + prize money banked from Trophy run so far and semi-final details
THIMOTHEE Lo-Tutala entered Doncaster Rovers' penalty hall of fame alongside Paul Crichton on Tuesday night.
Back in September 1990, Crichton made headlines after saving the same penalty three times in a fourth-tier game at Rochdale after the referee twice ordered a retake.
Lo-Tutala's feats in the EFL Trophy quarter-final at Huddersfield Town also saw him deny a spot-kick taker from the other side on three occasions, albeit in a penalty shoot-out, which Rovers won 2-0. The Hull City loanee might have done better for Town's leveller from Cam Ashia in regulation time - the game ended 1-1 - but he got in the way of everything else for Rovers, who have now banked £160,000 in competition prize money so far.
Lo-Tutala said: "Obviously, first and foremost, I'm just happy to get the win and next round.
"I am not a hero at all. It's the boys and the courage they have to even step up and be brave enough to take a penalty. Whether you score or miss, in my eyes you are a hero in your own way.
"There's a lot of 'prep' which goes into it. Credit to Kyle (Letheren - goalkeeping coach) and the analysis team. We analysed every single person that could have possibly taken one.
"But at the end of the day, it is the one who is actually on the pitch who has to deliver it and actually do it. I am just blessed and humbled enough to be in that situation to do so, but I am not a hero, by all means."
The Trophy semi-final draw, which is not regionalised, will take place live on Sky Sports News today at 2.30pm. Northampton and Stockport are through with Luton and Plymouth still to play their quarter-final.