Ward to remain on penalties duty

Elliott Ward's last successful penalty for Coventry was against QPR last month.

Coventry City defender Elliott Ward looks like remaining the Sky Blues' penalty taker despite his embarrassing miss against Southampton.

Ward chipped the ball straight into the goalkeeper's hands in the 4-1 home win over the Saints a fortnight ago.

But Ward, 23, has converted eight spot-kicks for Coventry.

And manager Chris Coleman insists that Ward will continue to take penalties as long as he wants to - and that the player himself is keen to continue.

Coleman told BBC Coventry and Warwickshire that he has not even discussed a change, even though there are plenty of options.

"If Elliott comes and says to me I don't want to take this penalty, I've got three or four strikers desperate to take penalties because they want to score goals", said Coleman.

It's not going to put me off taking them, nothing will. I'll always put myself forward

Elliott Ward

"But if I were to say, 'Elliott, you're off penalties', for me that is letting him off.

"He's a big boy and a strong character and can look after himself. If we get a penalty I'm sure he'll stick it in the back of the net."

Ward himself remains keen to keep the penalty-taking responsibilities despite missing two of his last three. And he has not ruled out trying the same trick that failed against Southampton.

"Never say never", said Ward. "The next penalty I'm confident of taking.

"It's not going to put me off taking them, nothing will. I'll always put myself forward."