Chris Iwelumo’s amazing miss for Scotland has begged the question of whether it was one of the worst in football.
The Wolves striker’s failure to score a sitter in Saturday’s World Cup qualifier against Norway left the Scots stunned, the former Charlton man stabbing wide from four yards out, after Gary Naysmith had supplied the perfect cross.
Many thought the ball had gone in and were celebrating, while the linesman appeared to initially indicate a goal. Their worst fears were confirmed when they realised the ball had sailed wide.
Now Iwelumo’s chance has reopened the debate about football’s big misses. So in no particular order, we have selected five of the biggest missed sitters – and ‘big Chris’ is in good company.
Also, two of the highest profile howlers were committed by Albion strikers.
Nwankwo Kanu’s miss for the Baggies in a 2-1 defeat against Middlesbrough on 13 November 2004, was described as “almost impossible” by then Albion boss Bryan Robson.
The Nigerian somehow lobbed over from two yards out when it seemed far easier to score.
Kanu is joined on the red-faced list by the man regarded by Albion fans as ‘The King,’ Jeff Astle, whose miss came for then world champions England in the 1970 World Cup against Brazil.
In his defence, Astle was further out than Iwelumo, but he could only fire over with just keeper Venerando Mielli Felix to beat.
Gordon Smith’s miss for Brighton against Manchester United in the 1983 FA Cup final prompted the fanzine title ‘And Smith Must Score’.
But a list of howlers wouldn’t be complete without arguably the Premier League’s biggest, by Liverpool’s Ronnie Rosenthal against Villa in 1992.
After rounding the keeper just inside the penalty area, the Israeli fired against the bar to the delight of the Villa faithful.
17 Comments
This is getting a bit boring now.
It hit his heel, it’s not like he meant for it to go wide. 99 times out of 100 you’d score them.
Mistakes happen, so why cant the E&S get over it and stop highlighting an unfortunate incident.
Remember nobodies perfect.
Keep your head up Chris and make them eat their words.
Nice to see the local rag backing one of our own. This paper is getting worse by the day.
It was a bad one, and possibly even worse than Kanu’s against Boro from 3 / 4 years ago.
Cheer up Wulfies, surely you’d rather he missed chances like this for the Jocks than you lot wouldn’t you?!
well done chris - the jocks are crap anyway without you missing!
I think Kanus was worse, but the worse and weirdest one i have ever seen was Brian Deane against us at the Hawthorns. He was on the goaline at the back post and fell over the ball.
Also i thought Astles shot went wide not over the bar!!??
Who Cares aslong as he scores for the wolves. who really gives a monkies about scotland anyway….
Do you call this journalism?? This article is a joke! We all make mistakes. Get on with it
SUPER SUPER CHRIS!
This story is 2 days old. Its getting boring.
Can beleive your printing this rubbish E&S shame on you… Talk about supporting local football…
Great write up for Daniel Jones at the weekend,shame as usual its one of our young uns doing it for someone else….
Thats well harsh.
Astles shot did go wide. The goalie was still on his line at the time, so it was not any empty net.
Agree with those above - non-story. It was a difficult chance compared with the one Akinbiyi missed at Bramall Lane.
How much do E&S journalists get paid? if this is the best story they can come up with then they must just sit around all day throwing paper balls into a waste paper bin all day, this is what I’d expect from baggies supporters ,not wolverhamptons own paper, shoddy - very shoddy.
Must be a slow news day, even as a baggies fan I can’t critisise an honest mistake, I bet there are never any mistakes in the express and star. Oh Astle did shoot wide!!!