Ice-cool Kevin had plenty of bottle

Stuart Watson

KEVIN Lisbie says there was never any doubt that he would step up and take Colchester's second penalty on Saturday just minutes after he had already missed from the spot.

The 30-year-old had put a 40th minute spot-kick over the bar but immediately grabbed the ball just four minutes later when the U's were awarded their second penalty of the afternoon.

He confidently tucked that one into the right side of the goal and then rolled a third penalty into the bottom left corner just seconds after the restart.

“You've got to have bottle to take a penalty and if he'd have wanted to give the second one to someone else that would have been fine with me,” said U's boss Aidy Boothroyd, but Lisbie said the thought had never crossed his mind.

“A few of the lads offered to take the second one but there was no way I was going to let them,” said Lisbie, who has now got six goals in eight league games.

“I just made sure I hit the target as hard as I could with the second one and thankfully it went in.”

With the on loan Kayode Odejayi making his debut alongside Clive Platt up front, Lisbie was asked to fulfil an unfamiliar right-midfield position.

He did so with gusto, often back in his own half defending as well as still proving a big threat going forward, and was given a superb reception by the home support when substituted in the last minute.

“I've played there a few times before and although it's something I'd prefer not to do, I was asked to do a job. Sometimes you are asked to do things you do not want to do but the most important thing is the team.

“If that means I have to defend a bit then that's what I have to do.”

Hailing his goalscorer, Boothroyd said: “Despite what he's done in the game he was still wanting to work hard for the team. I wouldn't expect anything else, I expect everyone to put a shift in, and that's what he gave me.”

And speaking on the impact of his new manager, Lisbie, who is on a season long loan from Ipswich, said: “He's been excellent and I think he's exactly what we need right now. He wants us to adapt to the way he wants us to play and that's going to take time, but we haven't lost in three games now and hopefully we can keep climbing the table.”

Meanwhile, new Colchester debutant Danny Batth says he is excited to be part of the club for the next month.

After making his professional debut, the 19-year-old on-loan Wolves defender said: “I think this just the start for Colchester and we can push on in the league.

“The move happened fast but it comes at the right time for me and this is the right club for me. I'm here for a month but if the manager likes me and like the club then who knows, it could be extended.”