Big Brian

THERE were no recriminations from Argyle manager Carl Fletcher after the Pilgrims exited the Capital One Cup on Tuesday in a second-round penalty shoot-out defeat at Burnley.

The Pilgrims drew 1-1 with their Championship hosts after extra-time, meaning the tie had to be decided from 12 yards.

Although all the Argyle takers found the target, three were denied by Burnley goalkeeper Brian Jensen.

Robbie Williams – who had scored from the spot in the last minute of normal time to take the game into the additional half-hour – Luke Young and Conor Hourihane all saw the giant Dane keep out their kicks, with Matt Lecointe and Max Blanchard the Pilgrims to beat him.

However, the shoot-out went to the last kick after Argyle ’keeper Jake Cole saved Ross Wallace’s attempt, and Junior Stanislas heaved his kick over the crossbar

Fletch said: “Penalties are a flip of a coin, really.

“You don’t want the players to be nervous or have any fear, so you just tell them to strike the ball well and hit the target, which all of my players did.

“They all struck the ball really well.

“On another day, we could be saying we had five good penalties, but the Burnley goalie was a little bit one step ahead. He just read them and dived the right way.”