Cole Palmer’s flawless record from the penalty spot finally came to an end after the Chelsea star fluffed his lines against Leicester City.
The 22-year-old’s form has tailed off in recent weeks and he had gone eight games without a goal heading into Sunday’s match against the relegation threatened Foxes.
Palmer was presented with the perfect opportunity to end his drought midway through the first half when Jadon Sancho was felled by Viktor Kristiansen.
Chelsea’s star man had scored his 12 previous penalties, often opting for precision over power, while his confidence earlier in the season was typified by his Panenka penalties against Brighton and Tottenham.
On his occasion, however, Palmer opted to blast the ball towards Mads Hermansen’s left-hand post and the Leicester goalkeeper got down adroitly to repel the shot.
Get personalised updates on Chelsea every day
Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we’ll send you so we can get football news tailored to you.
‘Cole Palmer’s penalty wasn’t one from someone with a lot of confidence,’ ex-Chelsea goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer told BBC Sport.
‘He went for power over real placement and the goalkeeper does so, so well. It wasn’t his best penalty.’
He added: ‘It’s a brilliant save from Mads Hermansen. He waits till the last second. Cole Palmer hit it with power and it’s really great save.’
Palmer’s deterioration has mirrored that of a side that looked as though they were in the title race earlier this season but have now been dragged into a fight for Champions League qualification.
Without the former Manchester City player digging them out of trouble, the Blues have looked a shadow of the team that appeared to be making rapid progress under Enzo Maresca.
‘When you score a goal you are more happy because your goals help the team to win,’ said Maresca when asked about Palmer’s state of mind at Friday’s pre-match press conference.
‘But overall Cole is fine. He’s happy.
‘He knows he’s struggled to score goals in this moment but that it’s something normal that during the season can happen.
‘Watching him during the training session you don’t think it’s affecting him, he’s fantastic.”