Man Utd striker Robin van Persie cannot forget his missed penalty despite scoring a hat-trick in a dramatic 3-2 win over Southampton.
Hat-trick hero hits 100th Premier League goal but rues fluffed penalty
Manchester United striker Robin van Persie cannot forget his missed penalty despite scoring a hat-trick in a dramatic 3-2 win over Southampton.
The Netherlands international netted three times, including a last-gasp winner against a spirited Saints side, but it was the fluffed spot-kick that dominated his thoughts after the game.
The 29-year-old had a chance to level from the spot with the game at 2-1 but chose to weakly dink the ball which keeper Kelvin Davis parried away.
Van Persie spared his blushes by going on to get United's second and third goals to clinch all three points for the Red Devils.
Penalty miss
"I don't know what I was thinking with the penalty," Van Persie told
Sky Sports.
"I wanted to hit it hard, like I always do but at the last second I just changed somehow. But that wasn't good enough.
"Then afterwards we got a bit lucky with the 2-2 and then the dramatic 3-2.
"I ask a certain standard from my game and when you're 2-1 down you can't be taking a penalty like that.
"Something went wrong, I will have to work on that."
Scholes
Van Persie was quick to point out the contribution of veteran midfielder Paul Scholes who was brought on for Tom Cleverley on 61 minutes with United 2-1 down.
He added: "Everyone worked hard but I have to say a big thank you to Paul Scholes, when he came on everything was ticking.
"For me he was the man of the match today."
