Lay off Boyle.. every striker has a degree in the dark arts
ON REAL DOWNER Boyle had not been looking for penalty in tussle with Goldson, left, last Sunday
EVERY footballer has been told if you’re clipped inside the box, you go down. We are all Martin Boyle. It was a lesson learned the hard way as an 18-year-old who had just arrived into the Hibs first team. Alex McLeish was the manager and we were at Dunfermline. I found myself one-on-one with the Pars keeper and as I was going around him, he clipped me. Like the honest Glasgow boy I am, I tried to stay on my feet. But the angle was then too wide and I missed it. Big Eck went off his dinger at half-time, he was furious. It was something I’ve never forgotten. In no uncertain terms I was told the next time I was touched or clipped by a keeper or defender inside the box, I was to go down. From then on I didn’t need to be asked twice and there were times during my career I could have passed as a double for Tom Daley. So I sympathise with
Boyle, who has spoken about the accusations of Ross County boss John Hughes for allegedly diving during a game in Dingwall.
Yogi said the last time he saw a dive like that, the boy had Speedos on. Frustration triggers remarks such as that one from Yogi.
Last time I saw a comment like that, the manager had just been beaten.
Hibs were by far the better side that day and I felt at the time Boyle tried to pull the wool over the eyes of the referee to win the spot-kick. I’d be the last guy to blame him, though.
There were two occasions in that game when he went down easily, so I see where Yogi’s coming from. Like all good professionals, he went down after some contact and was looking for it.
Referees know who’s who and I believe Don Robertson’s decision to book Boyle at Ibrox on Sunday was a classic case of going with reputation.
Rangers defender Connor Goldson was stronger than Boyle and brushed him over – it was never a booking but it wasn’t a penalty either. I was flabbergasted when he was booked for simulation.
It was different to what he was up to against County. He didn’t go down looking for a penalty but he has clearly been touched by the diving brush when it comes to match officials.
He feels aggrieved and he’s already said he didn’t even appeal for a penalty and his reputation is now going before him. That was clearly shown on Sunday.
But on this occasion it was harsh and he was the innocent party as the referee got it wrong.
Boyle sits only behind Aberdeen’s Lewis Ferguson at the top of the chart when it comes to most fouled players in the Premiership – 82 times to be exact – which tells its own story.
Boyle’s a terrific player. When you travel at the speed he hits, the slightest contact will take you down. Reputation or no reputation, he’s a real weapon for his side when he’s in full flight.
Being one of our game’s most fouled players is a huge positive for Hibs – it’s a statistic that should be worn as a badge of honour.
Boyle is winning fouls, penalties and free-kicks around the box. Jack Ross will be delighted to have a player who makes that type of impact in the final third.
He’ll tell him to keep doing what he’s doing and as for the dark arts? We are all Martin Boyle.