England goalkeeper Hart saved a first-half penalty from Cesc Fabregas on Sunday, leaving the Arsenal skipper and Spain midfielder to protest that he didn’t deserve his man of the match accolade after their 3-0 win.
Hart showed his ability against spot kicks as long ago as August 2008 when two saves in a dramatic UEFA Cup shoot-out in Denmark saw the Blues through to the first round proper 4-2 against FC Midtjylland.
But Joe admitted: “I didn’t study how Fabregas takes penalties - I don’t think there’s any point. He can put it in any part of the goal he wants to from 20 yards, so from 12 yards his choices are endless!
I just felt like I knew where he was going to put it and was lucky enough to go the right way. It’s just a shame it didn’t help the result
City are without a midweek game as the Carling Cup fourth round is played out over the next two evenings, a rare break for most Blues players given the Europa League commitments and international demands.
Hart said: “I like the games to come thick and fast, but then I’m only standing around in goal! The other lads need to get their rest in, and next Saturday is further away than we are used to.
“It’s great because we can get a little bit of rest this week and get really focused on the Wolves game.”
Defender Dedryck Boyata will have an enforced longer break than his team-mates after being sent off against Arsenal, an early red card that heavily influenced City’s first home defeat since April.
But Hart said: “It was tough on Dedryck. It’s nothing to do with being young - everyone gets lured in, Marouane Chamakh is clever and draws fouls. Dedryck will bounce back in a couple of weeks when his ban’s over.”
