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Practice Makes Perfect For Crucial Krul
Written by Newcastle Utd
Tim Krul revealed how hard work on the training pitch was key to two pivotal moments in United's draw at Swansea
By Anthony Marshall - Newcastle United Managing Editor
Goalkeeper Tim Krul revealed how hard work on the training pitch was key to two pivotal moments in Newcastle United securing an impressive point against high-flying Swansea City on Saturday.
While teammate Papiss Cisse will grab most of the headlines for his point-securing double at the Liberty Stadium, both goals were preceded by fingertip stops by Krul at the other end of the pitch.
They were near-idential saves - full-length dives to divert the ball behind, both from Swans dangerman Wilfried Bony.
And Krul was delighted to put into practice an exercise that he and his goalkeeping colleagues have been grafting away at with coach Andy Woodman.
"That's always nice and makes the save even more special when you see the ball going in their net soon after," the Dutch international told nufc.co.uk.
"Funnily enough, we have been working on those moments a lot in training recently.
"You've got Robbie (Elliot) and Jak Alniwck passing it in to Andy Woodman, who fires it in from six or seven yards.
"Two of those moments happened today and that makes me pleased that we have been working on it.
"It's a great feeling when you transfer your work on the training pitch into a match - it's special, and it's all thanks to the hard work of Woody."
While that may have put a smile on Krul's face, he wasn't so happy at leaving South Wales with just one point, despite Newcastle twice coming from behind to secure a draw.
"I've got mixed feelings if I'm honest, because I thought we could have snuck it at the end," explained the stopper.
"Don't get me wrong, it was great to come back, and to do that twice. When you go one down, confidence is low, then come back to 1-1 and do it all over again to make it 2-2, it's a good thing.
"But we can't just be happy with a point because we should be fighting for spots in the top ten.
"Some people might have taken a point before the start of play, away from home at a team like Swansea, but not me. I'm more ambitious than that.
"However, we showed good spirit and that is a big positive to take from today."
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