When outfield players go in goal: Rio, Beardsley, Savage, Quinn, Lansbury and more
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West Ham midfielder Henri Lansbury once again donned the goalkeepers gloves after first choice Hammers goalkeeper Rob Green was sent off for Sam Allardyce's men against Blackpool on Tuesday night.
The on-loan Arsenal man spent 35 minutes between the sticks and even managed to keep a clean sheet, more than he could manage when he went in goal for the England U21's 2-0 defeat against Germany U21's in 2010.
In homage to Lansbury, talkSPORT remembers the times when outfield players have been forced to join the goalkeepers union, with some fairing much better than others.
1) NIALL QUINN SAVES A PENALTY FOR MANCHESTER CITY
After netting a first half goal against Derby in April 1991, the 6ft 4in Irishman then found himself being called upon to perform heroics at the other end when City goalkeeper Tony Coton was sent-off just before half-time. Derby striker Dean Saunders confidently stepped up for the Rams but saw his penalty fantastically saved by the former Sunderland chairman, whose stop actually managed to relegate the midlands outfit. Legend!
2) Phil Jagielka KEEPS OUT ARSENAL
The England man has always been considered a versatile player but few would have thought that he possessed the skills as a goalkeeper as well. With the Blades a goal up at home to Arsenal, Jagielka donned Paddy Kenny's rather large goalkeeper shirt and performed miracles in the United goal as they secured a famous victory over the Gunners.
3) Shaun Wright-phillips PROVES SURPRISINGLY GOOD IN GOAL
Although the 5ft 5in winger's turn as a goalkeeper didn't come in an actual game, the now QPR player's achievements as a goalkeeper should not be overlooked. While in training at Man City, Wright-Phillips took his place in what must have felt like a very large goal frame and performed a one-handed stop that the likes of Peter Schmeichel would have been proud of.
They say you need luck as a goalkeeper, too…
4) GOALKEEPER Rio Ferdinand CAN'T STOP UNITED CRASHING OUT OF THE CUP
With first choice goalkeeper Edwin Van der Sar taken off with injury and his subsequent replacement Tomas Kuszczak sent-off, Rio took his place between the sticks at Old Trafford and was immediately faced with the task of dealing with Sulley Muntari's penalty in this 2008 FA Cup tie against Portsmouth. Although the defender dived the right way, the Ghanian's penalty was far too powerful and led to United being dumped out of the competition. Ouch!
5) ROBBIE SAVAGE GIVES A ROYAL COMMAND PERFORMANCE IN THE NETS
When sub goalkeeper Saul Deeney was sent-off just before half-time against Reading in a 2010 Championship match, the Rams skipper took it upon himself to keep the Royals at bay in the second half. Savage kept goal for 45 minutes, conceding just twice and pulling off some great saves. However, despite the blond-haired Welshman's best efforts, Reading waltzed to a resounding 4-1 win over Savage's hapless team-mates.
6) PETER BEARDSLEY PLAYS EMERGENCY 'KEEPER AND IS ABSOLUTELY RUBBISH
The former England and Newcastle star is more fondly recalled for his goal scoring antics rather than his ability to keep the ball out of the net. And nothing changed that fact during the Magpies 8-1 humiliation against West Ham at Upton Park in 1986. Beardsley was Newcastle's third goalkeeper of the evening and was so poor that even talkSPORT's very own Alvin Martin, a defender, managed to bag a hat-trick.