Hibernian manager Lee Johnson admits he can relate to Malik Tillman’s controversial goal for Rangers last weekend after recalling how he was guilty of something similar as a player.
On loan Bayern Munich playmaker Tillman misread the situation when he put Gers back in front in last Sunday’s 3-2 Scottish Cup victory over Partick Thistle.
The 20-year-old enraged the Jags players when he dispossessed Kevin Holt as the Thistle player was about to give the ball back after Tillman needed treatment.
Rangers boss Michael Beale immediately ordered his players to let their opponents level, with Scott Tiffoney being allowed to find the net unopposed. It was a gesture that drew acclaim around the world.
As a Yeovil player 19 years ago, Johnson scored a contentious hat-trick for Yeovil - then managed by his dad Gary - in a 3-2 Carling Cup victory over south coast rivals Plymouth.
The first goal had more than an element of controversy, however, with Johnson only intending to give the ball back following an injury hold up.
“That was the only hat-trick of my senior career,” said Johnson.
“The truth was I tried to be clever. My dad was the manager which made it even more difficult.
“The goalkeeper (Luke McCormick) tried to cut off my opportunity to put it out for a goal kick. So I tried to clear him but I shanked it completely and it ended up bending in the bottom corner.
“It was a bit of a shock for everybody. It was a big game, local derby, a sell-out crowd and I remember looking over to my dad.
“I swear to God, when he used to send me to my room as an 11-year-old it was the same look! He looked at me and said ‘you idiot’.
“Then he was caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. He didn’t really want to do it because he’s a dirty winner like we all are.
“But at the same time he had to. So we let them run through to equalise.
“If you were to see the match ball now, normally all your team mates sign it with well wishes. I’m just getting pelters on it! ‘You cheating little b’, ‘Never a hat-trick’ .. it was all on there.”
Some fans in Scotland have also not been shy in questioning Tillman's motives but Johnson has sympathy for the youngster.
He added: “I do feel for him actually, I don’t feel it’s on him really. The manager seems like he’s done the right thing but everybody will have their own ideas on it."
Johnson’s dad won a FIFA Fair Play award for the gesture but would his son be so generous in a similar scenario?
“It depends,” adds the Hibs boss, whose team welcome Kilmarnock tomorrow. “I’ll be honest with you, I don’t trust myself. It’s all contextual.
“I wouldn’t have in the Leeds situation that Marcela Bielsa allowed (against Aston Villa in 2019).
“I probably would have done in my dad’s situation at Plymouth. I haven’t looked into the Rangers one enough. I hope I’m never in that situation. I’m already hated enough.”
Johnson’s solution for avoiding such controversy in future is simple.
He added: “It’s interesting because I got in a bit of trouble with the other managers when I was in the Championship.
“I wrote a letter to every manager saying I was going to allow the referee to ref the games.
“I’m telling my team not to kick the ball out of play if there’s an injury, therefore I don’t expect you to do it for us.
“That is my view because the referee is there to manage it. There are mitigating circumstances for your own team. If I saw something horrendous, as I have a couple of times before, like an ankle going completely the opposite way to the shin bone, then that ball’s going out of play.
"You know that player’s injured. But not for just a coming together and a bit of contact.”
