Millar marvels at ‘unbelievable’ McGovern
THE top goalkeeper in Scotland has secured a place on the England plane to Brazil for the World Cup Finals.
The second-best No 1 in the country, according to Falkirk midfielder Mark Millar, isn’t even playing in the Scottish Premiership — yet.
That dream could be a step closer after the play-off semi-final second leg today between Millar’s Bairns and Hamilton Accies.
Michael McGovern is the man Millar is backing to emerge as the hero in a contest that could come down to a penalty shoot-out for the ticket to take on Hibs.
On the evidence of a frantic first leg last Tuesday, when he kept the hosts competitive and secured a 1-1 draw, McGovern’s form is backing up quite a boast from his colleague.
‘Other than Fraser Forster, I think Mikey is the best goalie in the country,’ stated Millar.
‘He has been terrific in the time I’ve been at Falkirk, different class.
‘We know he’s going to make great saves and it gives us the impetus to go and score goals. It might come down to penalties and, if it does, we’ve got the best goalie. So we’re delighted with that.
‘I don’t know how Mikey wasn’t man of the match the other night. Some of the saves he pulled off were unbelievable. He kept us in the game.
‘I hope it’s not going to come down to penalty takers because we’re rubbish at them!
‘I know me and Rory Loy have missed two this season but I’d happily go and take the next penalty if it means taking the pressure off someone else. I am sure Rory is the same.’
Millar won a promotion in 2012 via a free transfer to Dundee United, but he returned to the Championship on loan in November when he failed to break into Jackie McNamara’s plans — and has been a key performer in the Falkirk promotion push.
‘It would be brilliant for me to help Falkirk back to the Premiership again,’ he said. ‘It would be a sweet way to do it after we were unlucky not to go straight up.
‘Dundee deserved it because they finished champions. But we took 10 points off them. They haven’t beaten us. We were unlucky in other games that could have gone our way.’