(Video): Chelsea loanee keeps his team’s superb start up with awesome triple save | OneFootball

We were careful to remind ourselves all summer that we couldn’t expect too much from Strasbourg last season.

They had an incredible campaign under Liam Rosenior, and while their final finishing spot was 7th, they were just a couple of points away from being much higher, and only slipped out of Champions League contention on the final day.

After then losing some key players in the summer, it was always going to be hard to replicate that.

Triple save keeps Strasbourg in the picture

Mike Penders with a Chelsea news logo. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Well, maybe we shouldn’t have been so afraid. After 5 games they’re in 4th place in Ligue 1, but level on 12 points with second place Monaco. They kept up their momentum with a 3-2 win over Paris FC yesterday.

There were a few storylines in play there – not least the return of future Chelsea striker Emanuel Emegha from his injury to contribute a goal and assist to the win.

But Strasbourg would not have been in that position had goalkeeper Mike Penders, on loan from the Blues, been in great form to keep Paris out early on. A triple save was really eye catching.

You can see highlights in the clip embedded here:

Penders still a rough diamond

Penders is not perfect – look at both Paris goals last night and you’ll see technical error from him. But he’s so young and getting great experience playing every week in Ligue 1. If he’s coached well, there’s no reason he can’t really come on leaps and bounds this season. All the physical tools are there and he seems to have a great personality.

We hope to see more strong performances as the year goes on. This loan looks like one that will benefit him and benefit Strasbourg as they look to repeat last season.