Editorial: Don't worry, Wilson! Penalty misses can galvanise us for the run in

Yesterday at 01:37 AM

Wilson Isidor's double spot kick miss needs to be used as motivation for the run in – could it galvanise us as Micky Gray's Wembley miss did back in 1998?

No matter how disappointed you are this morning about last night's penalty drama, I guarantee Wilson Isidor is waking up feeling 100 times worse.

Missing one penalty's disappointing, missing two in the same game – within 10 minutes or so of each other – is pretty unusual. I can remember Martin Scott and Paul Bracewell missing in the same game at Crystal Palace back in 1995 and Darren Bent missing two against Spurs in 2010, but it certainly doesn't happen very often.

Whether Isidor should have taken the second one or not I don't know. Hindsight is wonderful, isn't it. If he'd have scored it we'd have been praising his character to the hilt. As it was, he leaves himself open to a load of grief. Missing it doesn't change the fact he had the strength to step up a second time.

It was a big moment, and fair play to him – he stood up and showed some bollocks.

And, after some of the gutless players we had in that Moyes-Grayson-Coleman era, that means a hell of a lot.

I criticised Danny Dichio – who shied away from taking a penalty at Wembley back in 1998 – much more than I did Micky Gray who did step up. Especially when he was happy to take a no-pressure spot kick early the next season when we were already 2-0 up at home to Oxford.

You could see just how much it mattered to Wilson at full time. But, much, much more importantly, you could see by the way the players reacted to him, looked after him, put their arms around him, how much Wilson matters to them.

You could see the reaction from the supporters at Turf Moor too. There was nothing but love, affection and support. That's massive. It's something that can bring us all together as one, and can serve us well for the rest of the season.

Because a point away at Burnley's not a bad one on paper, and I think the fact they were celebrating like they'd won the league tells you everything you need to know about the game last night; the second half in particular. They knew they'd got out of jail.

Fair play to Trafford – there's not many keepers save two penalties in a game – but he probably should have been sent off for two lots of time wasting and gamesmanship. Plus he was well off his line for the second one. But, the first was outside the box (which would have seen the Burnley defender sent off by the way, so you can argue who got lucky there).

Regardless, the fact we left Burnley feeling gutted that we only got a point is something we have to turn into a positive. And the disappointment we all felt at full time has to be quickly harnessed and turned around.

I know this is just one game and two points, rather than defining a whole season and deciding a team's fate for next season too, but in a way, this could have a similar galvanising effect to the Charlton play-off defeat.

After that game, Niall Quinn rallied everyone. It wouldn't be a surprise at all if Luke O'Nien, Dan Neil, Trai Hume, Chris Mepham or Dan Ballard did the same last night, channelling that disappointment as motivation – because we've got a hell of a lot of talent in this team, and 57 points still to play for.

After last night, I believe more than ever that we can win automatic promotion, because not only do we have the talent, we've also got the right character.

As for Wilson – the fella's been a breath of fresh air since he came into the club. Not only is he a bloody good player, but more importantly, he seems a top, top bloke, too – and that's what we need. That's what we want.

Yes, it's disappointing he missed those pens, but he had the bollocks to take them – and something tells me that, when we look back on this season, last night won't be Wilson's defining moment.

He's going to play a massive role between now and the end of the season – and hopefully beyond – and he could well be the difference between automatics and play offs when all is told.

We're all in this together – so, we dust ourselves down and move onto Derby on Tuesday night.

Odds on an Isidor winner, anyone?