FORMER Southend United goalkeeper Daniel Bentley feels wearing orange helped the Shrimpers win at Wembley.

Five years ago this week, Bentley saved two penalties to help Blues win the League Two play-off final against Wycombe Wanderers.

And Bentley still feels his choice of kit could have played a part.

“I remember the kit man rang me before the game asking if I wanted to wear green or orange,” said Bentley.

“My instinct told me orange but I wanted to check with Terry Mason, the goalkeeping coach at the time.

“We looked into the tiniest of details with everything and when I asked he advised me to go with orange, to be brash, in your face and out there in the right way.

“He wanted me to look aggressive and intimidating because that might give you the 0.1 per cent which can make the difference.

“I remember sitting down after the game with Tel as well and saying I was glad I wore orange because I firmly believe that may have played a tiny, tiny part in me having more of a presence when it came to the penalties.”

Blues won 7-6 on penalties but Bentley felt doing his homework on Wycombe’s takers did not really play a part.

“We did study the penalties Wycombe’s players had taken but for instance Paul Hayes had gone the same way with nine of the penalties we watched then he went the other way in the final,” said Bentley.

“When you’re taking a penalty at Wembley and so much is at stake it’s completely different to anything else.

“I just tried to be a nuisance in the penalty shoot-out and gain some kind of advantage.”