Penny for Alex's thoughts after Rangers penalty woe

The defender gave away two late penalties to Steven Gerrard's side in October

Published 2nd Nov 2018
Last updated 2nd Nov 2018

Hamilton defender Alex Penny admits it was "massively difficult'' to put his double penalty misfortune against Rangers out of his mind.

The 21-year-old, who signed from Peterborough in the summer, twice conceded spot-kicks in the 4-1 home defeat to the Light Blues in the Ladbrokes Premiership last month.

Referee Andrew Dallas pointed to the spot after the stopper's handball and then did so again after a challenge on Gers striker Alfredo Morelos.

After away games at Kilmarnock and Aberdeen, Penny returns to the scene of his penalty punishments against Livingston on Saturday.

He said: "I came into training on the Monday after and carried on working to prepare for the next game.

"It was massively difficult. Throughout the next few days I had people messaging me, asking if I am alright and it kind of puts a doubt in your mind whether you are or not.

"I have been fine and just had to move on.

"It is something that is going to happen throughout my career. There will be lessons learned all the way through and it's something I will have to take with me.

"On both incidents, I knew the first one definitely wasn't a handball. The second one, I thought he had given the penalty for the touch on his shoulder so I was surprised.

"But at the end of the day you can't change the decisions the referee has made, you just have to move on.''

Martin Canning's side face Livingston for the third time this season following a goalless draw in the Betfred Cup and a 1-0 away defeat to the Lions in the Premiership.

Canning is taking nothing from Livingston's 1-0 defeat to St Johnstone on Wednesday night, the first loss for the West Lothian side in eight games which dropped them to sixth in the table.

He said: "They will have the same mentality. They have been used to winning. They have come up from the Championship and they have had a good start.

"You don't not respond to setbacks if you manage to come up from the Championship, it is a tough league, so they will respond.

"I don't think that will affect them. We have to make sure we are ready for the game.'