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Alan Shearer and Shaun Wright-Phillips criticise West Ham’s Jesse Lingard
that Jesse Lingard was wrong to try and take the penalty on Monday night against Sheffield United – with Declan Rice stating after the match he was on penalties.
Lingard, 28, has been excellent for West Ham since joining the club on loan from Manchester United. He scored a brace on his debut in a 3-1 win over Aston Villa, and then won the penalty on Monday night that saw Rice score from.
But many would have seen Lingard get ready to step up from 12 yards having won the penalty, only for captain Rice to take the ball off the loanee – and stick it past Aaron Ramsdale. Rice said after the game that he was told he was taking penalties.
Both Shearer and Wright-Phillips think Lingard was wrong to try and take the penalty with Rice stating that he had been told pre-match he was taking them. Shearer thinks it added unnecessary extra pressure on Rice.
“I didn’t like seeing that. You don’t need a teammate coming up to you saying ‘I want it’, you’re under pressure anyway. I don’t mind in the dressing room he wants the penalties. The decision must be decided before the game.”
“For me personally, I don’t like it. The manager knows who is taking penalties. Declan would have been told, that is the way it should be.”
TBR’s view – Lingard desire is a good sign, but pundits are right
Since joining West Ham, Lingard’s confidence has only risen. The playmaker has been excellent, adding flair, speed and skill to West Ham’s attack – making up for the club’s failure to bring in a replacement striker after Sebastian Haller’s exit.
His desire and keenness to take the penalty on Monday night is a good sign in terms of his confidence is rising, but as Shearer says – adding extra pressure on the actual penalty taker is wrong. Rice is strong, but another day, he might have missed.
