Andrews defends Ouattara after Brentford’s cup exit

Keith Andrews defended Dango Ouattara after the Brentford attacker’s woeful spot-kick against West Ham.

The Bees went out of the FA Cup after losing on penalties at the London Stadium, where Ouattara was the only player to fail to score in the shootout.

His botched Panenka penalty was gathered by goalkeeper Alphonse Areola.

But boss Andrews said: “I’m not annoyed at all. It takes serious courage to do that.

“The easiest thing for a footballer to do is not take a penalty. It takes unbelievable courage on a stage like that to take a penalty.

“He practises that technique a lot, and if it goes in everyone’s raving about him.”

Jarrod Bowen and Brentford striker Igor Thiago both scored twice – including a penalty from each – and that led to the match being level at 2-2 and taken to extra time, with neither side then able to find a winner.

Andrews said: “It was a proper cup tie. They took the lead and in the first half we didn’t hit the heights we could and should have done, but in the second half we got back into the game.

“Extra time, we huffed and puffed and when you get to penalty kicks, it is not a toss of a coin but you need luck. They took theirs very well, and unfortunately we missed one.”