LEE BRADBURY'S penalty-taking career is over, strangled at birth by Saturday's miss at Stockport.

Although Bradbury, pictured left, was quick to shoulder the responsibilty to take over the mantle from spot-kick king Alan McLoughlin, he said: "I won't be taking any more penalties."

"I probably cost us two points with that miss," moaned Bradbury who admitted a fatal change of mind at the last minute.

After watching The Master McLoughlin in action during his time with Pompey, Bradbury said: "He always used to place his penalties and I decided that was the best option.

"I practiced all week last week and was confident of taking a penalty if we were awarded one.

"When we were, I grabbed the ball. Steve Claridge would normally have taken it but he asked me if I was OK taking it and I said yes.

"I practiced placing them all week in traiing and had decided to go for accuracy, but as I ran up I saw the keeper moving in the direction I was going to put the ball. I decided to try and lift it over his dive, but in doing that I lifted it too high and hit the bar.

"That's it for me now, Steve Claridge can take them from now on."

Meanwhile, keeper Aaron Flahavan is hoping to put pressure on new manager Tony Pulis, starting from Thursday.

Flahavan has been out for almost a month with an ankle injury, during which time Pulis has taken over the reins at Fratton Park.

"It's back to square one for me and I have to prove myself all over again to a new manager," said the Southampton-born goalkeeper.

Although Pulis has brought Derby's Russell Hoult in on loan, Flahavan takes heart that the Pompey boss says he has no plans to make the move permanent and that he is merely buying himself breathng space until Flahavan is fit.

"If that's the case, it's encouraging to hear. In the meantime, I have to get a couple of games under my belt to show him what I can do," said Flahavan who is hoping to make his comeback in a midweek reserve match at Norwich City.

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