On yer Mark!

DEREK McGREGOR
Published: 11th May 2012
SCOTLAND legend Alan Rough last night told Mark Brown he’ll never have a better chance to become Hibernian No1.

Former Easter Road idol Rough reckons NOW is the moment for Brown to cement his place between the sticks.

The 31-year-old is assured of a starting slot in the Scottish Cup Final with Graham Stack crocked since being forced off late in last month’s semi-final triumph over Aberdeen.

Ex-Rangers and Celtic keeper Brown climbed off the bench at Hampden and has played all four SPL games since, helping the Hibees secure their top-flight status.

A succession of managers have failed to find someone between the sticks consistently good enough.

But Rough believes an impressive display by Brown in the first capital derby showpiece for 116 years can change all of that.

The 60-year-old — who played over 200 games for Hibs between 1982 and 1988 — said: “He’s had a few games now and that’s important, because it would have been a big ask just to throw him in there.

“Keepers are a different breed. He’ll be looking at Cammy Bell and thinking it could be him. He knows he’s got it in him and if he needs to then he could have the game of a lifetime. I think he’s a good, workmanlike keeper.

“He’s not flashy and does his job to the best of his ability. Hibs have not had a permanent keeper, which hasn’t helped over the last few years.

“The boss should make his mind up and stick with one.

“The last manager apparently had a rotation policy for keepers which I’ve never seen in my life before.

“No one knew who was going to play. When you get to a Cup Final you just enjoy it — and I’m sure Mark will be the same.”

Hearts are overwhelming favourites to beat their bitter rivals and keep them waiting for a Scottish Cup triumph for a 111th year.

But having starred in one of the biggest footballing upsets of all time Rough’s convinced Hibs can win.

The 53-times capped legend was in goal for Partick Thistle as they hammered Jock Stein’s Celtic 4-1 in the 1971 League Cup Final.

Rough said: “The relegation thing being out the window is a massive boost for the whole club.

“Having been with clubs in my career who have had to deal with the threat of relegation I can tell you it’s a horrible situation.

“No one comes in with a smile on their face when you are second bottom — but that 4-0 win against Dunfermline would have changed that.

“Hearts are the favourites, but going into a game at Hampden anything can happen.

“There’s no given in any Cup Final and I’m sure the Hibs players will respond. They will go in with a fresh mind.

“With Partick Thistle in 1971 we were huge underdogs — much bigger than Hibs are now.

“We had four shots at goal in the first half and they ALL ended up in the net!

“If you see the game again, we had no chances second half.

“I still remember sitting in the dressing room at half-time and I turned to Alex Rae and said to him: ‘We could lose this 6-4! That’s the kind of team we were.

“Celtic had great players and could have done that — in fact in the second half they pummelled us.

“We were playing a team that had been European Cup winners four years previously — and most of these guys were still in the team.

“We didn’t think we couldn’t win it. I was only 19 and I had no fear.

“I’m sure the Hibs players will have no fear for this one either.

“You need players to grab the game by the scruff of the neck.

“I’m looking at O’Connor, Griffiths and the goalie Mark Brown. On the day Brown could be the man. Look at Cammy Bell at Kilmarnock.

“He has the game of his life and wins the League Cup for Killie.

“You look at players who will say ‘Bring it on’ — you don’t want anyone to panic. You need players to respond. I don’t know if it’s arrogance, but you need people to step up.”

Rough never played in a Scottish Cup Final — but he regarded the Edinburgh derby as his jinxed event.

He said: “I lost a League Cup Final to Aberdeen 3-0 and lost a semi-final against Rangers. But for me the Scottish Cup wasn’t the hoodoo — it was games against Hearts!

“I played in 15 derby games and didn’t win one! A lot of them were draws, mind you.

“Hibs had a good team at that time so I don’t know whey the derby record was the way it was.”

Hibs haven’t beaten Hearts since May, 2009.

Rough added: “There are a lot of loan players at Hibs so they are not weighed down with the tradition.

“I don’t think the ten-game derby run Hibernian are on right now will prey on players’ minds.

“I didn’t get to ten and go into the 11th and worry what was happening.

“In fact it wasn’t until I finished playing that I was told the run was 15 games.

“I wasn’t conscious of it — and I don’t think players are like that.

“Hampden is a special place for special players. You need someone to grasp it and make things happen for you on the day.

“I loved it at Hibs and would be delighted to see them win the Cup.”

Alan Rough was promoting the William Hill Braveheart Race Meeting at Hamilton Park which takes place on the eve of the Scottish Cup Final.