Mansfield Town goalkeeper Scott Shearer in League Team of the Week after history-making penalty saves

Shearer performed superbly throughout and made two penalty saves from Paul Mullin and Shaun Miller to ensure that Mansfield came out 2-1 winners.

The 34-year-old Scot recently returned to Adam Murray’s starting line-up in place of Brian Jensen.

The full Football League Team of the Week was: Scott Shearer (Stags), Bojan Jokic (Nottingham Forest), Leon Legge (Cambridge United), Adam Barrett (Southend United), Mahlon Romeo (Millwall), Jamie Murphy (Brighton & Hove Albion), Joey Barton (Burnley), Bradden Inman (Crewe Alexandra), Tom Naylor (Burton Albion), Jobi McAnuff (Leyton Orient), Gary Hooper (Sheffield Wednesday).

Murray had high praise for Shearer, who became the first Stags keeper to save two separate penalties during a game, but also for the analysis team that provided Shearer and Brian Jensen with information on Morecambe’s penalty-taking habits.

“Saturday was pleasing in that we had a couple of set pieces that worked, our game plan worked and then the behind-the-scenes team work came off,” said Murray.

“The analysis stuff was mentioned over the weekend, but that’s not stuff that just happens for one game, it happens for every game.

“But sometimes in games like that it gets highlighted. The preparation is always the same for every game. They play a massive role in what we are doing and they deserved a bit of credit this weekend as they probably won us the three points.”

On Shearer’s powerful emergence into the team, he said: “We always knew this was going to be the case.

“Scott has had seven promotions I think; he’s constantly been in winning dressing rooms and knows what it takes to win.

“He is a different character to Brian. He’s a bit more in your face, a bit more aggressive, but both are very, very good goalkeepers.

“For Scott to be patient, as he’s had to be, then be ready to take his chance – you have to give him a lot of credit for that. It would have been easy for him to lose his head, especially coming in expecting to play but, fair play, he’s been professional, he’s worked very hard in training and deserved the opportunity.”

Murray, sent off near the end of Saturday’s game for protesting to the referee, has watched the two penalty kicks awarded back again and said: “The first one I think he’s got spot-on.

“It’s a great touch from the lad and Taff (Ryan Tafazolli) has given him a bit of a tug.

“The second one I think is very harsh. It’s not as if his hand is in what they call an unnatural position. He’s not made his body bigger. As he’s jumped to get leverage, he’s two yards away from the lad, so how he’s supposed to get out the way of that I don’t know.

“You look at the one yesterday, Manchester United – exactly the same, no penalty. So you’d like to see a bit of consistency in opinion.”