Penalty miss drives on Sharps to secure visit to Wembley

The Leicester City striker was left with egg on his face on Wednesday night after his ill-advised chip was easily saved during a penalty shoot-out defeat against Cardiff City in a Championship play-off semi-final.

Even Kermogant's own team-mates could hardly muster a pat on the back – knowing that his act of self indulgence had just shattered their promotion dream.

As Rotherham United prepare for their turn in the play-off spotlight, tomorrow night at Aldershot Town, captain Ian Sharps recalled a penalty miss of his own that also cost a club a place in a play-off final.

Five years ago, Sharps was playing for Tranmere Rovers in a League One play-off semi-final when the responsibility for a shoot-out penalty fell on his shoulders. His effort was also saved and it sent opponents Hartlepool United to the Millennium Stadium for a final against Sheffield Wednesday.

The incident has haunted Sharps ever since but the 29-year-old insists that, if necessary, he would step up to the plate again.

"It was the worst moment of my career, soul-destroying to be honest," he admitted.

"Looking back, the nerves got to me.

"I walked up to the ball far too straight and the goalkeeper knew where I was going to put it.

"I then had six or seven weeks to dwell on it without a game which was not nice. I was a young player and I was down for quite a long time.

"If I am asked to take a penalty again, I will do. I am one of the older lads now so I would step up and take the responsibility.

"But I don't think I would try to do what the Leicester lad did on Wednesday night," he stressed. "Obviously if it goes in, everyone claps, but if it doesn't, you look a fool."

Sharps has yet to play at Wembley but victory over two legs in the League Two play-off semi against Aldershot could take him there for the first time.

The Shots are seeking their second promotion in three seasons after returning to the Football League in 2008 following an absence of 16 years.

Wound up in 1992, the Hampshire club had to start life again as a part-time outfit in Isthmian League Division Three – five rungs lower down the league ladder.

Since November last year, they have been managed by Kevin Dillon who worked previously as No 2 to Steve Coppell at Reading.

The Millers finished fifth in this season's League Two table, a point above the Shots, whose 3-0 victory when the clubs last met in April helped derail hopes of automatic promotion.

"All the pressure is on them more than us," insists Sharps, who will be out of contract with the Millers in the summer but keen to stay.

"They battered us down there and a lot of people are now tipping them to win the whole thing. But I think we have got a better squad of players and, if we give a good account ourselves, we will be alright.

"Our sense of disappointment at missing out on the top three has long gone. We were nine points adrift with three games to go so we knew then that the play-offs had to be our route out of the division and we have all been geared up for this.

"I have never won a promotion in my life and I have never played at Wembley. If I could be the captain who lifts a trophy there, it would be a dream come true."

Manager Ronnie Moore has no fresh injury concerns ahead of tomorrow's game but is set to recall striker Adam Le Fondre and midfielder Josh Walker who were both rested for the final league game of the season at Hereford United.