Ross County striker Ronan Hale has lifted the lid on Kasper Schmeichel’s penalty ‘mind games’ during Celtic’s trip to Dingwall on Sunday.
Hale’s penalty gave County the lead inside the first half, before Alistair Johnston found the equaliser and Nicolas Kuhn snatched a dramatic late winner to maintain the Hoops’ 100% league record.
The 26-year-old Staggies frontman scored from the spot on the second attempt after Schmeichel saved his first effort but was caught off his line.
Now the boyhood Hoops fan has opened up about how Schmeichel tried to put him off. “I don’t know who did it [to the spot],” he said. “But there was a lot of kicking around and there was a divot beside it.
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“It was just all about getting a clean connection. Obviously, there were some mind games going on. He was just talking about where I was going to put it and stuff.
“He [Schmeichel] guessed right the first time but the second time I think he just stood in the middle and it’s gone in the corner.
“So, thank God he did. It’s a 50-50 chance he can get his hand on it or it’s going in. Thankfully the second time I did it.
“Obviously, it’s not nice to miss. Once I’d seen the opportunity that he was giving another one, there was no doubt in my mind that I was going to take it. Luckily, I scored it.”
