Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp was left head over heels with the penalty taken by West Ham midfielder and captain Mark Noble in his side’s clash against Newcastle United on Saturday.
The Hammers took a 2-0 lead at half time after Declan Rice’s header and Noble’s spot kick, Javier Hernandez brought down under a challenge from Florian Lejeune.
After seeing his first run up stopped by the referee for encroachment by both sets of players, Noble gave Martin Dubravka no chance with a penalty right into the top corner and Redknapp insisted it does not get any better.
He told Sky Sports’ coverage of the clash (02/03): “The penalty, as good as it gets.
“You’ve got to be calm, he’s calm and assured.”
Opinion
As spot kicks go there have been few better seen this season, Noble teaching everyone watching exactly how to ensure you give the goalkeeper no chance at saving your effort. It was as perfectly placed with power into the top corner and even though Dubravka guessed the right way he was nowhere near to getting a glove on it. In fact, even if the Newcastle shot stopper had known where his West Ham counterpart was aiming, he would have struggled to get a palm on it. As Redknapp says, the perfect penalty taker is calm, focused and confident and Noble always looked like he was going to stick it into the back of the net. He is the Hammers’ captain fantastic and it takes a lot of bottle and belief to take a penalty. As per usual, Noble was leading by example and it is no wonder he is a firm favourite of the fans in east London.