Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon has added Nahki Wells to a list that already includes Luis Suarez and Wayne Rooney.
The Romanian custodian may not be to everybody’s taste, but he caught the eye on his most recent outing.
Sheer size makes the 32-year-old hard to ignore.
He would, however, tell you that he is about much more than physical presence.
Such calls have fallen on deaf ears at times.
Pantilimon has as many critics as supporters.
That is nothing new, though, for a man who has divided opinion throughout his career.
Not everything he tries comes off.
And not every performance is a classic.
Such is the life of a goalkeeper.
Just ask David de Gea!
Acclaim
Occasionally, though, the sporting stars align and widespread acclaim is a shot-stopper’s for the taking.
As easy as plucking a high ball out of the air.
In Pantilimon’s case, he had a starring role to play for Forest in their latest outing against Queens Park Rangers.
It was not an action-packed encounter for the Reds’ No. 1, but he was kept busy.
And he had an answer to all of the questions asked of him.
Including the most important one in the 88th minute.
Forest, for all of their hard work, appeared set to miss out on another away win and back-to-back victories for the first time since September.
Pantilimon was, however, to make a telling contribution.
Jack Robinson, and the rest of his team-mates, may have been slightly bemused by the awarding of a late spot-kick, but the decision stood.
Giant
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Wells stepped up.
Pantilimon sprung to his left and batted away a rather tame effort.
Forest hung on and three points were theirs.
Pantilimon has now faced six penalties this season.
Only two have been saved, with former Reds striker Joe Garner the other man to have been denied in a 3-1 victory over Wigan in January.
A giant presence can, however, claim to have frustrated six men from 12 yards.
Wells and Garner are the most recent entries on that list, while Bradley Dack was left cursing his luck during an EFL Cup outing for Pantilimon in the colours of Watford back in August 2016.
Prior to that, a penalty-saving account was opened in some style.
Suarez was the first man Pantilimon denied from the spot, when the Uruguayan was on the books at Ajax.
Manchester United’s all-time leading scorer Rooney was then prevented from adding another effort to his tally during an FA Cup derby date with City in January 2012.
With some notable names on his roll of honour, here’s hoping there are more to come for Forest’s last line of defence.
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