Ivan Toney continued his impressive penalty-scoring record on Monday but the Brentford striker says his method is simple.
The 26-year-old stroked the ball into the bottom-right corner from 12 yards again as Thomas Frank's side claimed a 3-2 Premier League victory over fellow unlikely European hopefuls Fulham.
Toney has converted all 22 penalties he has taken for Brentford, with 10 of those coming in the Premier League.
Only Yaya Toure, who scored all 11 spot-kick attempts for Manchester City, boasts a better 100 per cent conversion rate in the competition – yet Toney explained his penalty procedure is all about being relaxed.
After being made to wait before putting Brentford 2-1 up in the 53rd minute at the Brentford Community Stadium, he told Sky Sports: "The wait doesn't matter, the longer the better really because I can get away and think of other things like being away on holiday and chilling.
"The goalkeeper didn't move but I have always got a spot where I put the ball."
Toney has scored 27 of his 28 penalties in his professional career, with the only blemish a saved attempt for Peterborough United in a 4-0 defeat against Barnsley back in October 2018.
That miss was the catalyst for a technique alteration.
When asked when he changed his approach, he replied: "When I missed... I thought of different techniques to make sure I had a better chance of scoring and it's working out alright at the moment, so touch wood, it continues."
Another strike against Fulham took Toney's Premier League tally to 15 this season despite off-field issues.
He has been charged with 262 alleged betting violations by the Football Association, which took place over a four-year period, but hit out at English football's governing body last weeks after reported media leaks.
Reports suggested Toney, who missed out on England's World Cup squad in Qatar, would be banned for six months after pleading guilty to some charges – claims the forward strongly denied on social media.
Brentford head coach Frank previously defended his star attacker and reiterated his backing for Toney after the Fulham win.
"I take all the praise, it is solely me," Frank initially joked to Sky Sports. "No it is Ivan, that is the technique he had when he arrived at Brentford.
"He is the best penalty taker in the world for a few reasons, his strategy, he practices it and he is very cool. He keeps doing it all the same.
"It is a unique skill with him. This situation with the [betting] case going on, he has a unique ability to focus on games and training and he has kept doing that so that doesn't surprise me.
"He doesn't like the situation but he has top focus. He is a special footballer, I think his character is unique in terms of leadership and driving his team.
"His link-up play and the way he sees his team-mates around in terms of combinations and then his ability to score goals. He is an all-round football player."
Frank praises Brentford's pressing, sees no tactical revamp with Toney departure
Thomas Frank heaped praise on Brentford's pressing following their 3-1 victory over Southampton on Saturday.
Bryan Mbeumo scored twice from Brentford's forwards forcing the Southampton backline into errors as the Bees earned their second Premier League win of the season.
This did not go unnoticed by Frank, who believes his side rank as one of the best in the league when it comes to that specific aspect.
He told BBC Sport: "They made errors because we pressed them unbelievably well. I think we are one of the best teams to do the high pressure in the Premier League.
"The players are so committed and that is the reason why we capitalised on errors from Southampton.”
Despite the departure of Ivan Toney to Al-Ahli, Frank does not think their style of play will have to be restructured too much, with both Mbuemo and Yoane Wissa enjoying productive starts to the season in his absence.
Frank said: “Ivan is a fantastic player, I'd love to have him in the team but he has his own journey and is going elsewhere.
"Our style of play hasn't changed. Wissa and Ivan are different players but the style doesn't change.”
Southampton boss Russell Martin was frustrated with his side’s mistakes at crucial moments, believing their performance was far better than the scoreline suggested.
He said to the BBC: “We made two mistakes that we were punished for, which is frustrating and disappointing.
"I saw lots of good things to feel positive about. I feel a lot better this week than I did after the Nottingham Forest game.”
Bayer Leverkusen 2-3 Leipzig: Visitors fightback halts unbeaten streak for Alonso's side
Bayer Leverkusen suffered their first defeat in 36 Bundesliga matches, as Leipzig came from behind to stun Xabi Alonso's side 3-2 at BayArena.
Lois Openda struck twice for Marco Rose's, who recovered from 2-0 down to make it two wins from two and move to the summit of the table.
It looked like business as usual for the reigning Bundesliga champions when they scored twice in the last seven minutes of the first half through Jeremie Frimpong and Alejandro Grimaldo.
However, Leipzig replied deep into first-half stoppage time with Kevin Kampl reducing the deficit.
Openda then brought the visitors level in the 57th minute, before a stunning long-range strike completed the turnaround 10 minutes from time, condemning Leverkusen to their first league defeat in 15 months.
Data Debrief: Leverkusen's long streak comes to a shuddering halt
Leipzig became the first side to beat Leverkusen in a Bundesliga match since Bochum achieved the feat a staggering 462 days earlier.
The visitors have begun a Bundesliga season with two wins from two for only the second time, also doing so in 2019-20.
They are also now unbeaten in 13 league matches, their longest such streak since Rose took charge.
As for Leverkusen, their invincible streak is officially history, as is their 29-game unbeaten run on home soil.
McKenna: Ipswich have more belief after opening three matches
Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna believes his side have gained belief from their opening three fixtures of the season.
McKenna’s side picked up their first point of the Premier League campaign since being promoted on Saturday, drawing 1-1 at home to Fulham.
This followed losses in two tough opening matches against Liverpool and Manchester City.
Despite a total of just one point so far, McKenna believes all three matches were beneficial to help show his side how they can approach the season.
"Especially in the Liverpool game, the players came away with more confidence from it," McKenna said.
"And [against Fulham] we built on what we did against Liverpool. Our pressure was good and aggressive again.
"I think the players have come away from the first three games with more belief to be honest."
The 38-year-old was delighted with Liam Delap’s display after he got off the mark for the first time since his summer move from Manchester City.
"I enjoyed his all-round performance, each week he’s getting stronger, he’s learning and he’s got great growth to come," added McKenna.
“He’s got great potential, we have real faith in Liam and we are enjoying working with him.”
Marco Silva was slightly disappointed that his Fulham side failed to build on last week’s victory over Leicester City.
Adama Traore scored an equaliser before half-time but there was little between the teams after the break.
Silva said to BBC Sport: “It was a tough game against an aggressive side. They have great support which demanded us to win duels and beat the pressure.
"The reaction from us [after Ipswich scored] was good, we scored a good equaliser and after that we took a step forward and were completely in control.
"[Traore] created some good moments for other players, he is in good shape, helping the team and the reason why he is playing is because he can be decisive for us if he can take the right decisions.
"But the second half was a lot more difficult for us, we were not able to control the game the way we liked. We were solid, we did not give many things away but we did not create."
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