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Maidstone United boss John Still reveals why he substituted Luke Pennell

10:16, 30 September 2019

updated: 10:19, 30 September 2019

John Still put Luke Pennell in his place after substituting the Maidstone defender on Saturday.

Pennell made way for Ryan Johnson in the 73rd minute of United's 4-0 victory over St Albans, with Still accusing him of "taking the p***".

Luke Pennell is replaced by Ryan Johnson Picture: Steve Terrell
Luke Pennell is replaced by Ryan Johnson Picture: Steve Terrell

The Stones were already 3-0 up, thanks to Matt McClure's hat-trick, but that was no excuse for Pennell to start doing his own thing at the back.

"He was taking the p***," said United's head of football, who previously worked with Pennell at Dagenham. "He's got to play like a defender.

"He's trying to play like a midfield player and I said to Hak, 'just take him off' because it sends a message.

"We're here to win, we aren't here for an individual trying to look like Bobby Moore.

"Go and play like the team plays, go and do the job the team wants you to do and don't give people chances to get into our box.

"He's played for me for two years. He knows the job.

"You know his problem, technically he's top drawer, he's a Rolls Royce in that position, but he isn't as fit as he should be.

"He's been out a long while so he's got to come in and just do his job and grow into that bit.

"He hasn't got to look good, just be good first, simple as that.

"He's technically very good but he isn't ready to play like that.

"When you mess it up, it's 'hold on a minute, go on Ryan, you go on and head it and kick it."

Still made it clear to Pennell why he'd been taken off, with head coach Hakan Hayrettin saying: "I looked round and thought, 'John's going to tell him here' and he did.

"He had to take it. He was told in no uncertain terms. If he does things like that, someone else does it and it filters through the team.

"He didn't play badly but he knows the rules."

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