Blackburn keeper Paul Robinson says penalty heroics prove his World Cup credentials

England World Cup hopeful Paul Robinson believes he has proved he has the bottle for the big stage – after turning from villain to hero in an instant.

The Blackburn No.1 dropped a clanger to hand Chelsea an equaliser in their Carling Cup thriller but minutes later kept his nerve to stop two penalties in a shoot-out.

Robinson thinks that should show Fabio Capello that he is mentally tougher than the shot-stopper who lost his way in the wake of his most famous foul-up for England against Croatia.

The former Tottenham star has come through the school of hard knocks and emerged on the other side. He said: “I’m definitely a more rounded person now. I’m able to deal with situations a lot better.

“I’m a lot more mature and I can bounce back. My form this season has been steady, quite good at times. That was probably the first mistake I’ve made all year.

“To be able to bounce back in such a short space of time is unusual for a goalkeeper – but very pleasing. It was such a crazy five minutes or so. The highs and lows of football. Swings and roundabouts.

“You couldn’t experience two more contrasting emotions in such a short space of time. Only football can give you that. I was just trying to get myself out of the disappointing place I found myself in and focus on the job in hand.

“I couldn’t have done it earlier in my career. The lessons in life are there to be learned from. And if you don’t learn from them, there’s no point in having them. I’m definitely in a better place than I was a few years ago.”

Robinson knows he is still in with a chance of a place in Capello’s squad with all of the keepers having question marks over their credentials.

And he admitted he was lucky to have a chance to put the record straight so soon after spilling a free-kick at the feet of Paulo Ferreira.

He said: “I’m very disappointed with their third goal. I should have done a lot better but fortunately for me I was able to clear my head.

“It was difficult but it’s strange for a keeper to be in a situation where he can make amends.”