Walsall's Andy Taylor put on the spot again

Chris Waddle, Stuart Pearce, Roberto Baggio, David Beckham, John Terry... they have all missed from 12 yards in penalty shoot-outs.

And so too has Taylor, when the script should have ended with him being a Wembley hero.

The defender returns to the stage of his biggest heartache when Walsall tackle Bristol City in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy final.

But the 29-year-old watched his last kick at Wembley rebound off the post and deny Sheffield United the chance to return to the Championship.

It's a memory that's even more poignant because the full-back had been hustled onto the pitch by boss Danny Wilson in the very last minute of extra time in the 2012 League One play-off final as a spot-kick marksman.

Instead his left-footed strike smashed against the right-hand post and Huddersfield Town went on to win 8-7 after all 11 players on both sides took a spot-kick.

The Blackburn-born player still wonders 'what if'... but his March 22 date with Walsall offers the opportunity to erase the agony, and enjoy Wembley ecstasy.

"As soon as I struck it, I thought it was in," said Taylor. "I thought I struck it really well and I was almost shocked to see it cannon back past me off the post.

"I wasn't the only one to miss but it's a moment that's sort of etched on your memory forever really.

"It's a moment that's always in the back of your mind. It's a life-changing moment – what could have happened if it had gone in.

"But you could drive yourself mad and go round in circles thinking about it.

"Getting to the JPT final is a great opportunity for me to put that right hopefully on a personal note this time.

"Ideally it won't go to penalties but if it does hopefully I'll be on the right side of it.

"It (missing) happens. It doesn't matter how good or bad of a player you are, when it comes to it, it is almost a lottery.

"It happens to the best players in the world and it's just how you deal with it and move on."

That's what Taylor had to do to continue his career. That fateful kick proved to be his last in a Blades shirt, as his contract was not renewed and he joined Walsall.

The former Blackburn and Tranmere defender won caps through the England youth age groups from Under-16s to Under-20s.

He accepts there will be a different feeling for the JPT final than a play-off decider but that certainly will not lessen the desire to win.

He said: "There is less pressure than in a play-off final. A play-off final is almost a defining moment of your career – you're either back up into the Championship or stuck in League One. It's the end product of an entire season's work.

"Whereas with the JPT obviously it would be fantastic to win but if we don't then it's not the end of the world. But the pressure is what you put on it yourself.

"We want to go there and win. We've got to Wembley for the first time in 127 years and that's fantastic.

"But nobody remembers the runners-up in a competition. We want to win, so that's the pressure we are putting on ourselves."

"There's not a team in this league or this competition that we fear or that we can't beat – so there's no reason why we can't go there and win it.

"It's a one-off day, it's a final, so anything can happen."

If it goes to penalties, though, Taylor might not be first in line. He joked: "I've taken a couple at Walsall. I took one in the JPT against Wolves and missed!"

"I have scored a couple in my life but I can't remember them exactly."

He'll be hoping Sunday, March 22 will be spot-on for the right reasons.