Burnley stopper James Trafford saved two penalties from Sunderland’s Wilson Isidior (Image: Getty)
If James Trafford is to join in the future, the goalkeeper may have already earned the acceptance of the Toon faithful after denying their rivals on Friday night.
The goalkeeper fully earned his man-of-the-match award for an incredible performance between the sticks after earning a clean sheet in the 0-0 draw. That was far from a simple task though as the 22-year-old faced two penalties from Wilson Isidor late in the game, and the reported target saved them both.
It was a performance that will do his chances no harm of securing a move to St James’ Park after the
Isidor grabbed the ball after he was brought down by CJ Egan-Riley with 86 minutes on the clock, and the referee pointed to the spot despite replays showing the foul took place outside the 18-yard box.
Isidor stepped up and went for power, but Trafford did his homework and guessed correctly, parrying the ball away to keep the scores level.
But in the fifth minute of stoppage time, Sunderland’s Dennis Cirkin was tripped in the box by Oliver Sonne and the Black Cats were awarded another penalty. Having missed the first, the Frenchman had the bravery to step up again, only for Trafford to get down low and beat away his 12-yard effort.
When celebrating his monumental save, Trafford trolled Sunderland by copying star Alexander Isak’s celebration by ‘shooting’ an imaginary gun with his fingers.
It means the Clarets, who have remarkably only conceded nine goals in 27 games this season, remain two points clear of Sunderland in second place as Trafford played down his heroics.
Newcastle target James Trafford saved two penalties for Burnley (Image: X/Sky Sports Football)
“Just had to get Ceej [Egan-Riley] out of trouble. Got him out of trouble, then he made a great block, it’s what we do, done it since [we were] 12,” Trafford said.
Asked if he was playing mind games by delaying both penalties, the shot-stopper smiled and said: “The first one my laces were undone and the second one my hammy [hamstring] was crying.”
Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris admitted Trafford’s mind games could only be commended after making Isidor wait several minutes to take his penalties.
“Yes, it’s smart I think. To wait is to break the rhythm, you can produce doubt and the crowd is around,” Le Bris said after the game. “I should say it’s smart because at the end, it worked for them.”
Wilson Isidor is consoled after seeing two penalties saved by James Trafford (Image: Getty)
I feel really ashamed, but i promise you that i will come back stronger from this ! See you tuesday, HWTL.and also Big love for all messages of support from the real one
— Wilson Isidor (@IsidorWilson)
Later on Friday, Isidor took to social media to write a grovelling apology to the Sunderland fans after his double miss from the penalty spot.
“Feels like a big slap in the face, and the worst day of my life because all of us know how I love this club,” the striker wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
“Even if only act on the pitch can make forgive, I would like to apologise on my teammates, every single fans and all the person of this club for what happened tonight.
“I feel really ashamed, but I promise you that I will come back stronger from this ! See you tuesday, HWTL. And also big love for all messages of support from the real one.”