Brad Friedel saves two penalties to shut out Sheffield

Brad Friedel likes to play in front of a hostile crowd -- particularly when it comes to penalties.

The Blackburn goalkeeper saved two spot kicks in the 0-0 draw at Sheffield United in the Premier League on Saturday.

"I've played long enough now not to let the crowd get to me," Friedel said. "They are actually enjoyable for me. The more hostile, the more fun it is to play -- providing they are not over the top in a violent manner."

"But I like the banter, and things of that nature, because it gets me going," he said.

The former US international palmed away the first spot kick from David Unsworth in the 77th minute. In the 86th, Friedel also saved a penalty from Rob Hulse.

"Sometimes it's a feeling, others it's how they run up," Friedel said. "The best penalty takers don't give you a clue until the last second, and one of the best is [Ruud] van Nistelrooy because of the pace he puts on the ball. He's taken five penalties against me, he's gone the same way every time, and I've only saved one."

Friedel won't have to worry about Van Nistelrooy this season -- the Dutchman transferred to Real Madrid last month.