Manuel Almunia there for Watford with penalty

WATFORD goalkeeper Manuel Almunia was ready to book his summer holidays when Leicester City were awarded their stoppage-time penalty in Sunday’s extraordinary play-off semi-final.

With the tie level at 2-2 and extra time looming, referee Michael Oliver pointed to the spot after Marco Cassetti nudged Anthony Knockaert to the ground. Knockaert stepped up to take the penalty which would have sent Leicester to Wembley but Almunia saved it, and the rebound, before Watford broke away and Troy Deeney netted an incredible winner in the 97th minute.

“It was a dramatic one, the kind of game you dream about and sometimes it happens,” said Almunia. “It’s the good side of football but the bad side is for Leicester, I feel sorry for them.

“When the ref gave the penalty I was nearly thinking of my holidays, there were only a couple of minutes left.

“But I was very relaxed. We watched the penalty takers on a DVD but this guy wasn’t on it. So I did nothing special, I just guessed the right side and it hit my legs.”