Lee Johnson has backed David Marshall to silence the critics and show his class against Celtic tonight.
The veteran Hibs goalkeeper has come in for criticism after errors in high profile games - the latest when James Tavernier angled a free kick into his near post for the opener in Rangers win at Easter Road on Sunday. Record Sport columnist and former Hibs striker Tam McManus claimed the former Scotland hero was coming under pressure from fans and urged Lee Johnson to look for a new keeper to at least put pressure on the 38-year-old.
But ahead of the home clash with Marshall’s first club Celtic tonight, Johnson said: “For goalkeepers it’s a lonely world, isn’t it? “A midfielder can make 100 mistakes and no one mentions it but a goalkeeper makes one mistake and it costs you a goal. Over the course of the season he has been really calm, really secure, and composed and he is an experienced goalkeeper. Listen he was disappointed on Sunday as we all were with that goal.
“But, at the same time, I’m absolutely certain that David Marshall goes into Wednesday with a pure mind and if he faces that situation again, he doesn’t make the same mistake twice. That is the quality of someone of his ilk, with the experience he’s got.”
Meanwhile Johnson has urged his players to take confidence from their performance at Celtic Park two months ago when they lost 3-1 to two late goals after having played 65 minutes with 10 men following Elie Youan’s controversial red card.
He said: “I’ll be honest with you, I thought we played really well at Parkhead. We went a man down undeservedly very early in the game.
“They have high quality players with speed, speed of thought, timing, philosophy is all there to see. But we have a plan. We are comfortable with it, we will carry a threat, there’s no doubt about that.
“And you have to be clinical, you have to take your opportunities. That gives you something to hold onto, and then it becomes a completely different game.”
