Why Rotherham United's Kieran Sadlier is happy to be put on the spot

It would have been easy for Kieran Sadlier to shrink at Birmingham last week.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

The former Doncaster winger was benched by boss Paul Warne in favour of Mickel Miller after starting the opening two games of the season.

Yet, the Irishman showed just how big he really is as he stepped off the bench and not long after scored his first Rotherham goal.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He confidently struck away an 86th-minute penalty at St Andrew's, which looked like being the winner until Blues got a spot-kick of their own at the death.

While some would might have been nervous amount stepping up, Sadlier was not.

“I'm very confident in front of goal, especially from the penalty spot,” he said.

“I took them during my three years in Ireland. I didn't take them last season because Doncaster had a penalty-taker already.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“I went and got the ball and I picked my spot. I do practise penalties a lot in training.

Rotherham United's Kieran Sadlier struck away an 86th-minute penalty at St Andrew's, which looked like being the winner until Blues got a spot-kick of their own at the death. Photo: Adam Davy/PA Wire.Rotherham United's Kieran Sadlier struck away an 86th-minute penalty at St Andrew's, which looked like being the winner until Blues got a spot-kick of their own at the death. Photo: Adam Davy/PA Wire.
Rotherham United's Kieran Sadlier struck away an 86th-minute penalty at St Andrew's, which looked like being the winner until Blues got a spot-kick of their own at the death. Photo: Adam Davy/PA Wire.

“ I'm just happy, obviously, to get my first Championship goal and hopefully it's the first of many.”

In a Millers team where there are so many potential penalty takers, boss Paul Warne revealed Sadlier got the nod after a competition in training.

“We've had arguments at the training ground about who should be taking penalties,” Warne said.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Strikers always want them. We had a little tournament the other day after training and Sads was by far the best penalty-taker.

“I never had any doubt that he was going to score. Our keepers got absolutely nowhere near any of his after training.

“He's a confident player, a very good technical player. For him to come on and score after he'd been dropped 24 hours earlier is testament to him as a kid.

“He was unlucky not to start. Sometimes who you are playing against dictates who plays.

“It wasn't that he hasn't been playing well.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“I just thought Mickel would cause Birmingham different problems. I think Sads will have a great season with us.”

- To help us maintain the high-quality reporting that you are used to from the football team at The Star, please consider taking out a subscription to our new discounted sports-only package. You'll find all the details at https://www.thestar.co.uk/subscriptions/sports.

Your support is much appreciated.

Chris Holt, Football Editor