Mark Crossley's Penalty Masterclass: How the Forest Legend Would Foil Bruno Fernandes and Ivan Toney

Picture this: the stadium's holding its breath, the spot-kick gods are watching, and you're Mark Crossley, the Nottingham Forest hero who once stared down Matt Le Tissier and lived to tell the tale. Yeah, the only keeper to save from that Southampton wizard, plus denying Gary Lineker in the 1991 FA Cup final. Crossley, chatting to GOAL while building a Bally Bet All-Stars vets squad, reckons today's water bottle tactics are handy, but real mind games win penalties.

Making 'Em Sweat: The Crossley Delay Tactic

Crossley's golden rule? Drag it out, mate. 'Back in my day,' he says, 'I'd make the taker hang about as long as possible.' Trained against top spot-kick merchants like Stuart Pearce and Teddy Sheringham, he knew they hated waiting. So, he'd saunter for a water break, wipe his gloves on the towel, or have a cheeky word with the ref about the ball's position.

Once the run-up started, it was pure gut feel. 'Instinct at the last second,' Crossley explains. Better diver to his right – cue the Le Tissier stunner – but he'd flip to his left for Lineker because something just clicked. No spreadsheets, just keeper's nous. Shootouts were his playground, getting into heads and reading the room.

Bruno, Toney, and the Slow-Motion Stare-Down

Fast-forward to now, with Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United skipper) and Ivan Toney (now at Al-Ahli) pulling those agonising pauses, waiting for you to twitch. Crossley laughs it off: 'They'll glance your way eventually.' His move? Fake a dive one direction, then boom – switch at the death. 'All instinct and a split-second edge.'

He ribs the hop-skip-jump run-ups too. 'I don't get it,' he chuckles. 'I'm 6ft 5in – stick it mid-height into a corner, and if I read it right, I've got you.' Proper advice for takers: pick your bottom bin, run straight, and smash it. No faffing. Fernandes and Toney might disagree, but Crossley reckons simplicity trumps circus tricks.

Water Bottles: Tech Aid or Psych-Out?

Enter the modern era – bottles scribbled with dive charts, like Brice Samba's masterclass in the 2021-22 Championship play-offs against Sheffield United. Jordan Pickford nailed it at Euro 2024, and Hannah Hampton even chucked Spain's Cata Coll's bottle into the crowd during the 2025 Women's European Championship final. Crossley saw Samba's trick live and was baffled at first: 'What the hell's he on about?'

But credit where due – it's research gold. Goalkeeping coaches pore over last 10 pens, spotting patterns. Still, Crossley warns: elite takers like Le Tissier could flip plans mid-stride. 'He saw my feint and adjusted, but fluffed it.' Shootouts amp the psych war; any edge helps when facing a barrage.

Technology's leaped since his days, but the core's unchanged: bottle it under pressure, and you're toast. Crossley's building that Bally Bet squad for grassroots vets at the City Ground – proper nod to unsung heroes. Next time you're yelling at the telly during pens, channel a bit of Crossley. Might just save your fantasy league dreams.

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