Tim Howard saves Christian Benteke’s spot kick (Picture: PA Wire)

Everton keeper Tim Howard has revealed the secret behind his magnificent penalty save at Aston Villa on Saturday – his big, bushy beard.

The American stopper pulled off an excellent one handed stop to deny Christian Benteke early on at Villa Park to help the in-form Blues to a 2-0 victory.

Howard has been sporting a rather impressive bit of chin fluff in recent weeks and asked what the key was behind his weekend heroics, he joked: ‘I think I’ve gained most of my strength from the beard.

‘Benteke is a strong boy and very powerful so I thought he might go to the right. For a right-footer, that’s his power side.




‘To be honest, I didn’t get it quite right as he went high but I got a little bit of luck, reacted and kept it out.’

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Howard celebrates with his beard (Picture: Getty Images)

Howard went on to make several more vital stops in the first half to help Everton maintain their impressive start to the season.

His performance earned huge praise from manager Roberto Martinez and the keeper said he was delighted with the way things went.

‘You are always trying to do your part as a goalkeeper and you don’t get many games like that,’ he told the club’s official website.

‘For me, I’ve been around the block a time or two so when you perform like that you try and savour it.

‘The best thing was that we got a clean sheet and the three points because it really keeps us on a good run.

‘It’s never as easy as it looks but it was a good performance.’

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