Kevin Mirallas penalty: Everton midfielder hauled off after taking penalty duties from Leighton Baines

Roberto Martinez removes the Belgian midfielder at half-time

Simon Rice
Monday 19 January 2015 22:18 GMT
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Kevin Mirallas takes and misses a spot-kick during Everton's match with West Brom
Kevin Mirallas takes and misses a spot-kick during Everton's match with West Brom

Kevin Mirallas wanted the glory. What he got was an early bath.

During Everton's match with West Brom at Goodison Park the home side were awarded a penalty late in the first half when Joleon Lescott handled in the area.

With the referee pointing to the spot, everyone expected Leighton Baines to step up. With a record of 15 goals from 16 penalties why would anyone else?

That question and its obvious answer alluded Mirallas, who after a brief conversation with Baines, opted to take it himself. And what so often seems to happen in these situations (think Alexis Sanchez taking the duties from Santi Cazorla against QPR) he missed it, skimming the ball off the outside of Ben Foster's post.

When the second-half started, Mirallas didn't re-emerge - Roberto Martinez had decided to take the Belgian international off.

Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville speculated the Everton manager had little choice in the matter: "I think his team-mates will have demanded that at half-time," he said, after describing going against team-orders as "one of the worst things you can do."

After the match Martinez suggested Mirallas was removed due to fitness conerns.

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