Johnson fired up by spot-kick misery

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• More Premier League news club by club

The 26-year-old is one of few Everton players attempting to overturn Chelsea's 2-1 first-leg advantage who has sampled the unique atmosphere of a domestic cup final, although it hardly ranks as one of his most cherished memories.

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In the mood for celebration: Johnson wants to make amends for his final misery

Birmingham City had made light of being a division below Liverpool in the battle to be 2001 Worthington Cup winners and were still level at the end of extra time after shocking Gerard Houllier's side with a goal from defender Darren Purse.

The penalty shoot-out was just as tight, until 'AJ' stepped forward for City and saw his kick saved by Sander Westerveld to hand Liverpool a 5-4 win.

Johnson said: 'It was the sixth kick and I don't think anyone else wanted to take it. When you are young, you don't have any fear, but I do remember Martin Grainger had taken the second one and missed and I had seen the tears rolling down his cheeks.

'I just thought: "If that is what it can do to an experienced 29-year-old, what is it going to do to me?" Every time I watch the game now, I think I look nervous and it was a half-hearted penalty.

'It has definitely made me more determined and it has also made me a stronger person.

Missing in front of 78,000 — in front of the Liverpool fans, at that — has to be the worst of the worst. If you miss in a normal game it is bad enough, but not as heartbreaking as that.'

Everton reinforced their top-four claims with a 2-1 win at Wigan and Johnson thinks they now have the firepower to add a Champions League place to a possible Carling Cup final.

'We have been scoring goals from all angles and that takes some of the pressure off the strikers,' he said.

'Ayegbeni Yakubu has been on fire. Yak has been the main man and I have struggled to get back in the team because he's been playing so well.'