Dan Bentley revealed he felt obliged to apologise to "heartbroken" Bradley Dack after spoiling his fairytale return from injury by saving his crucial penalty.
The captain's research on the morning of the game paid off as he denied Dack from the spot earlier this month late on before Andi Weimann went up the other end in the final seconds to seal a huge away victory at Ewood Park.
It was a moment of redemption for Bentley and encapsulated his recent form after being forced to work his way back into the side when manager Nigel Pearson dropped him following the loss against Queens Park Rangers before Christmas.
Dack had come off the bench as a substitute in the second half to a hero's reception from the home supporters after making his first appearance in a year.
The forward had endured a torrid time of injuries having suffered two ACL injuries within 18 months and Bentley shared his sympathy for his opponent at the full-time whistle.
He told Geoff Twentyman during an interview with BBC Radio Bristol yesterday: "I actually apologised to Dack after the game, obviously he looked heartbroken and I said 'listen man, I'm really sorry.'
"Obviously, it's a little bit awkward from playing against him a fair few times, I know what he's been through and how hard it is and I've seen that happen before (ACL injury).
"For it to happen twice in short succession was really tough so I did apologise but I had a job to do and that's helping Bristol City win games."
Speaking of the penalty preparation put in before the match, he added: "In regards to the research, there was research on Bradley Dack. I knew in my head where I was going before the game.
"I think they had three possible takers that I had researched and had clips that I looked at on the morning of the game.
"It was of those where a little of intuition, research, gut feeling, and mind games come into it. I'm quite big on the mindset of going in and trying to stir him as a taker, trying to win the psychological battle."
After replacing Max O'Leary during the loss at Swansea with the latter forced to come off injured, Bentley's form between the sticks has seen him regain the No1 shirt having started the last seven matches.
After a 2-1 victory over Middlesbrough last month, Pearson admitted that Bentley had done "exactly what I hoped he would do and stick two fingers up at me and say 'I'm back.'"
It was a comment that amused Bentley, and he is more than happy to continue proving his manager wrong ahead of the final seven matches of the season.
"It gave me the bit between my teeth," he added. "I know the gaffer made an amusing reference at the end of one of his interviews about the reaction that I might give to him about sticking two fingers up.
"Yes, there was a part of that. You want to go and prove someone wrong when you've been taken out of a position that is your entire world and obviously I want to prove him wrong but it was more about going in and doing what I can do."
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