Joel Byrom of Stevenage (13) celebrates after scoring -Tottenham Hotspur v Stevenage - FA Cup 5th Round replay - White Hart Lane, Tottenham - 7th March, 2012 © Kevin Coleman 2012

Stevenage midfielder on THAT spot kick, and how Spurs’ Carlo Cudicini helped him decide where to put it

JOEL Byrom says Tottenham goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini helped him make up his mind when it came to choosing where to put his penalty in last night’s (Wednesday) FA Cup encounter.

The Stevenage midfielder gave his side the perfect start to the evening when he slotted his spot-kick home with the Spurs goalkeeper going the wrong way just four minutes into the match, but Boro were eventually defeated at White Hart Lane through a Jermain Defoe double and an Emmanuel Adebayor penalty.

Speaking exclusively to The Comet after the game, Boro’s goalscorer, who was fouled by Ryan Nelsen which led to the penalty, said: “I got myself one-on-one against the defender and I thought that I might as well try to go past him and I touched it and I think he’s just nicked me.

“I’ve gone down, got the penalty, and I think he [Cudicini] went a little bit early and I went the other side.

“Lairdy [Scott Laird] missed a penalty last week and I spoke to him and said I’ll take the next one, and he was fine with it. It’s good to get your first in front of 35,000 fans.

“We got the early goal which was brilliant for us. We kept them at bay and then we’ve conceded a goal from our own corner which shouldn’t really happen, but we had chances again and we probably could have got something in the end.”