I’m a penalty saving expert who has stopped seven of my last nine including two on Saturday – here is my secret

HERO goalkeeper Cameron Dawson prefers to rely on his instinct when it comes to saving penalties.

The Sheffield Wednesday No1 stopped two spot kicks in the opening seven minutes as the Owls reached the FA Cup fourth round with a 4-0 win over Cardiff.

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Cameron Dawson saves Ryan Wintle’s penalty after four minutes on Saturday[/caption]

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Dawson then kept out Callum Robinson’s effort three minutes later[/caption]

Local lad Dawson saved Ryan Wintle’s spot kick on four minutes and, three minutes, later shut out former Sheffield United striker Callum Robinson’s effort.

Dawson, 28, said: “The big thing for me is to stay instinctive.

“You can do research in terms of where you think the penalty takers are going to go and if there is a pattern to it, but I make an instinctive decision each time.

“I was delighted to save the first and when the ref gave the second one, I thought my luck had to run out, but luckily I guessed right again

“There was still a long way to go in the game, so it was important for me to calm myself down.”

Dawson, who has saved seven of his past nine penalties, added: “I am really proud to have that record.

“I keep telling people it’s a skill when they say I am lucky, but I am not sure they really believe me!”

Dawson’s heroics only served to galvanise Championship strugglers Wednesday against a Bluebirds side without manager Erol Bulut, who was ill.

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Josh Windass, Liam Palmer and Mallik Wilks were all on target for the Owls, while another came courtesy of a Romaine Sawyers own goal.

Windass opened the scoring in the second minute with a rocket from 30 yards out.

Then came the two penalties after Michael Ihiekwe brought down Sawyers and Anthony Musaba did the same to Kian Etete.

But both were stopped by Dawson, then Wednesday scored twice in two minutes as half time approached, with Sawyers getting the last touch on a Ihiekwe’s thumping header.

They made it three after captain Palmer received the ball on the edge of the box and lashed it home past Cardiff goalkeeper Jak Alnwick.

Dawson continued to be in top form as he denied Ollie Tanner and Rubin Colwill.

And Wednesday put the icing on the cake one minute into second half injury time thanks to Wilks, who received the ball, took it beyond Alnwick and placed it into the empty net.

They will watch the fourth-round draw on Monday evening with interest.