We are not facing the cost of giving crisis
Hibs are already out of cup after handing away win on a plate but Marsh declares...
DAVID MARSHALL insists Hibs are not in crisis but admits they are already under pressure after their Premier Sports Cup debacle.
Following Wednesday’s home draw with Morton and penalty shoot-out defeat, Lee Johnson’s side were already facing an early cup exit before being stripped of a point for playing banned Rocky Bushiri.
Having reached the Final last season in one bright spot from a poor campaign, it has been the worst possible start for the new manager’s revamped side.
With just tomorrow’s friendly against Norwich left before the Premiership kick-off against St Johnstone, the Leith men are desperately seeking answers to poor displays in last week’s loss to Falkirk and then Morton.
But despite key players missing with injury, a raft of fresh faces and some unable to play because of work permit issues that still hamper Marijan Cabraja and Elie Youan, Marshall accepts massive improvements are needed to get angry fans back onside.
The keeper said: “It’s the first time I’ve played in this cup this early in pre-season. There are a number of things going on and in an ideal scenario we’d still be in pre-season but we’ve got enough quality in the squad that we should have been winning the group.
“That’s what the main disappointment is but I’m sure the performances will come once the team has gelled.
“It’s disappointing but with a dose of realism. We’ve been together for less than a month and we’re still trying to find our best team. The first half against Morton was nowhere near good enough. Norwich will be a step up but the big test is next Saturday at St Johnstone.
“We’ve got a tough run coming up after that, with Hearts and Rangers and away to Livingston, so we’ll just have to pick ourselves up. Hopefully the work permits will have come through and those lads can get some minutes and the team will strengthen.
“We need a good performance against Norwich. It’ll be our last game here at Easter Road before Hearts. We need to go and work on the training pitch over the next few days.
“It’s not a crisis or anything, there are no issues, but it would be good to get everybody fit and on the pitch and raring to go on Sunday.
“Football can change so quickly and if we can go to St Johnstone and win then everything will look different.”
Marshall is one of nine new players recruited by Johnson this summer and only the keeper, Aiden McGeady and Kyle McClelland have played in Scottish football before.
He added: “Perhaps for the foreign lads, and the boys coming in, it will be a bit of a culture shock. It’s up to us to help them settle. There are big expectations here, you heard the fans after the Morton game. Understandably they weren’t happy and they will demand third place and that’s the pressure we have to deal with.
“They’ve had a tough year with changes of managers and things like that.
“Ultimately we should have won the group. Performances haven’t been there but the fans want a reaction after what happened last season, and rightly so, and it’s up to us to give them that.”
Marshall insists he is happy to have been handed the captain’s armband but expects Paul Hanlon to resume as skipper once he recovers from a knee operation. The 37-year-old said: “I haven’t had any discussions with the manager. Paul Hanlon’s been injured, Lewis Stevenson’s been in and out as well, so I don’t know where the gaffer’s at.
“I’m more than comfortable with the armband, it’s not a problem for me. But Paul’s the club captain here and I’m still assuming Paul will be captain when he’s fit.”