Raheem Sterling's shocking penalty miss against Leicester is slammed by Martin Keown - as angry Chelsea fans call him out for taking it off Cole Palmer before he gets BOOED on three occasions after a poor display
- Sterling missed a penalty and had another shocking miss during the first-half
- The winger made up for his misses by setting up Cole Palmer's second goal
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Pundits and football fans have slammed Raheem Sterling after his shocking penalty miss in Chelsea's FA Cup clash with Leicester.
Sterling decided to take the penalty which he won after a clumsy foul from Abdul Fatawu, which could have given the Blues a comfortable early 2-0 lead.
However, the experienced winger connected poorly with the ball and it went straight down the middle giving an easy for Leicester keeper Jakub Stolarczyk.
Martin Keown on commentary said: It certainly is (a shocker) One of the players that you look to in this new generation of Chelsea players to be assured and he hits it straight down the middle.
'There's no quality in that at all. No real purpose, no power, comfortable for the keeper.'
![Raheem Sterling has been slammed after his poor penalty miss against Leicester](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/17/13/82563945-0-image-a-9_1710681854391.jpg)
Raheem Sterling has been slammed after his poor penalty miss against Leicester
![His penalty was straight down the middle at the Leicester goalkeeper, squandering a chance to make it 2-0](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/17/13/82564397-13206921-image-a-23_1710683633935.jpg)
His penalty was straight down the middle at the Leicester goalkeeper, squandering a chance to make it 2-0
![He later fired wide when through one-on-one against the Leicester goalkeeper](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/17/13/82564401-13206921-image-a-24_1710683660005.jpg)
He later fired wide when through one-on-one against the Leicester goalkeeper
During BBC's half-time analysis, Gary Lineker said it was 'strange' that Raheem Sterling took the ball off Cole Palmer, when he has scored five in his last seven, compared to Palmer's five in five.
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Dion Dublin both agreed that Chelsea captain Conor Gallagher should have had a word with Sterling.
Hasselbaink said: 'Gallagher as a captain you should go to Sterling and say no he's the penalty taker. He's taken five in a row, he's scored all five. He needs to take it. It's 1-0, lets secure this match.'
Dublin added: 'We speak about leaders and those taking charge on the pitch. The captain has to go 'right Palmer that's it you're taking it, sorry Raheem I will speak to you at half-time. That's what's happening, no questions' - deal with the arguments later.'
Fans also criticised Sterling for taking the penalty off Cole Palmer who has regularly taken them this season.
One fan said: 'Takes the pen over Palmer and misses. I have no words for Sterling anymore. Just leave.'
Tom Overend commented: 'Raheem Sterling taking that penalty off Palmer is very poor.
'Palmer is our taker, and to undermine that as a senior player does not exhibit leadership. Very disappointing.'
![Sterling had a disappointing first-half but did get himself an assist just before the break](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/17/13/82564399-13206921-image-m-26_1710683692785.jpg)
Sterling had a disappointing first-half but did get himself an assist just before the break
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/17/13/82564169-13206921-image-a-11_1710682661710.jpg)
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/17/13/82564167-13206921-image-a-10_1710682654791.jpg)
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/17/13/82564171-13206921-image-a-12_1710682710179.jpg)
Daniel Childs also wrote: 'As you were. Pathetic from Sterling all around.'
Sterling had another glorious chance just before half-time when he was put through one-on-one.
He decided to try and chip the goalkeeper but his effort was well wide of the post.
Keown said: 'Well, that central area burst of pace times his run perfectly and it's this moment, what will he do? He puts it awfully wide. Goodness me if you see that from another angle you will see how far away that was it wasn't even close.'
At half-time, Dublin said: 'For years and years Raheem has been in these situations and he's not very good at them.
'When you get into those situations you've got to know what's happening. Gary you've done it for years and years. On the shoulders of defenders you know what finish you will use before you get into that position. He's thinking 'what am I going to do' and he gets it wrong. He gets in some great positions though.'
Hasselbaink added: 'He's not good at finishing when he has time and he has to think. He's very good at finishing when it's instinctive and quick and puts them away. He's brilliant. When he has time a lot of things go through your head and he picks the wrong execution and that's what he did there.'
![Sterling was then booed by his own fans after he skied a free-kick well over the crossbar](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/17/14/82565007-13206921-image-a-27_1710685727999.jpg)
Sterling was then booed by his own fans after he skied a free-kick well over the crossbar
Sterling to his credit did set up Chelsea's second goal just moments later when his cross was put away by Palmer.
But in the second-half things got even worse when he was booed by his own fans after he skied a free-kick from a dangerous position over the bar from just outside the penalty area.
Chelsea fans then jeered heavily again when Mauricio Pochettino decided to bring off Mykhailo Mudryk instead of Sterling with the scoreline 2-2 with just over ten minutes to play.
One fan said: 'Poch takes off Mudryk, rather than Sterling - who's been the worst player on the pitch by some margin.
'Chants of "you don't know what you're doing" and "you're f***ing s***" directed at Poch from the Matthew Harding.'
Sterling eventually came off in the 86th minute where he was again met with boos from the home crowd.
Chelsea eventually secured a place in the FA Cup semi-finals after late goals from Carney Chukwuemeka and Noni Madueke secured a 4-2 victory.