WHAT has Michael Johansen got against scoring tap-ins? The diminutive Dane, who is playing as well as at any time since his summer 96 transfer from Copenhagen, is building a reputation for scoring spectacular goals.
He's a modest young man and gets embarrassed under the weight of praise but he can be justified in looking back with pride on his six super strikes this season.
Was Sunday's his best? The jink inside, the feint to the right then the perect execution - a shot from the edge of the box with a touch of 'side' that bisected two defenders and beat Kevin Miller's full-length dive. "I don't know if it was my best of the season," he said, reflecting on the previous five. "It was all right I suppose. Sometimes they go in sometimes they don't. At the moment they seem to be going in for me."
But that was before he'd had a chance to see it for himself on video.
There are, indeed, other contenders. Johansen is particularly proud of his goal in the 2-2 draw at Barnsley while the brace in the 4-0 hammering of Bury showed the full range of his talents - two top drawer shots, first with the left then with the right.
Even the two 'makeweights' in the collection took some converting with the red-haired winger showing excellent technique.
At Hull in the Worthington Cup a back-post volley did the trick, just when Wanderers needed it, and in the home game against Tranmere he was Johnny-on-the-spot with a rising right footer. Sunday's goal takes some beating, though, for all-round quality.
"Some say it's the best he's scored," Colin Todd mused, "and it may be. It was certainly typical of little Michael when I heard the finish described as 'cheeky' because that's what he is - cheeky, sometimes a little arrogant.
"He's a clever little player who's doing a good job out there on the right as well as popping up with some excellent goals. I hope he can manage a few more."
Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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