George Lloyd relishing Shrewsbury Town spot-kick responsibility
Lloyd explains why he wants to keep taking Shrewsbury penalties.
A confident George Lloyd says he is relishing the responsibility of stepping up from the spot for Shrewsbury Town.
Lloyd kept his nerve to fire home from 12 yards in Salop’s FA Cup first round victory over Eastleigh on Saturday, taking his tally for the season to six.
It was the 26-year-old striker’s fourth goal in his last five appearances, with Lloyd hitting a rich vein of form and confidence growing in front of goal.
“I am in a really confident mood at the moment. I back myself from the spot and in games,” he said.
“The goalkeeper made a really good save early on in the game to deny me.
“I am in good form at the moment and stepping up for penalties is something that I really want to do and keep doing. Hopefully we get many more.”
Shrewsbury went the whole of last season without being awarded a penalty in League Two, but they have been handed three in recent weeks - against Bristol Rovers, Gillingham and in the cup at Eastleigh.
Lloyd has converted all three, although he admitted there was a “slight moment of doubt” after his latest spot-kick struck the right post before crossing the line.
The striker added: “Considering we don’t get many penalties usually, in the past couple of weeks we have done all right with them. Happy to get another goal, but happy to be in the hat.”
He admitted there was “no thought” beforehand about where he would place his effort, adding: “Whatever I feel most comfortable is where it is going to go. As simple as that.
“I think it more than kissed it (the post). I hit it quite hard, but it went in.”
Isaac Fletcher scored a late winner in the pouring rain at National League Eastleigh to send Salop into the second round.
Lloyd said of the decisive goal: “Brilliant from Fletch, being in the right area at the right time. It was a quality ball in from Sangy and Fletcher got on the end of it.
“I don’t think there was any relief there. Over the 90 minutes, we deserved to win the game. Just in the box we need to be a bit more ruthless at times.”
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