Tue Mar 18, 2014 8:34 am
Cardiff City star David Marshall: Goodison show gives us belief we can stop Liverpool juggernaut
Tuesday Mar 18th 2014 By Terry Phillips
The Scottish keeper was in sublime form again against Everton and now believes the Bluebirds can shock Liveprool
David Marshall makes a stunning save from Kevin Mirrallas
David Marshall insists Goodison heartbreak won’t stop Cardiff City from trying to derail Liverpool’s title challenge.
Marshall produced another goalkeeping masterclass at Everton on Saturday before being beaten by Seamus Coleman’s fluke winner deep into injury time.
Everton boss Roberto Martinez described Marshall’s performance as one of the finest individual displays from a goalkeeper he had seen and the Scotland star is shoo-in for player of the year at Cardiff.
And Marshall could be in for another busy afternoon on Saturday with Luis Suarez, Daniel Sturridge and company on a high after brushing aside Manchester United 3-0 to move within four points of leaders Chelsea with a game in hand.
But with eight games remaining – four at home and four away - Marshall said of Liverpool’s visit: “It’s huge, one of the most crucial fixtures I’ve been involved in with Cardiff.
“Our team performance against Everton was the best we’ve played away for quite a while.
“It was a 90-minute display, we were comfortable for long periods and there is no question we deserved to take something from the game.
“The same focus has to be there for the rest of the season, starting against Liverpool.
“We went to Everton, took them on and deserved at least a point and now we have to play with that same spirit and desire against Liverpool.
“If we start well we can give them a difficult afternoon.”
Marshall has become a firm crowd favourite in his five seasons at Cardiff since joining in a £500,000 deal from Norwich.
Signed by Dave Jones, that’s the best bit of business City have done for ages – but it was the decision of Malky Mackay to name his fellow Scot as his No.1 (Jones had preferred Tom Heaton in the 2010-11 season) that gave the 29-year-old the confidence to make him one of the best goalkeepers in the land.
Marshall played a key role in Cardiff winning the Championship title last season and has now racked up 191 first-team appearances for the Bluebirds.
With eight games left this season he will hope number 200 comes in the Premier League in August, but even if City are relegated it will be no slight against Marshall who has made a division-high 120 saves this season.
But Marshall believes City can defy the odds and stay, with home matches against Crystal Palace and Stoke and away-days at West Bromwich Albion and Sunderland possibly holding the key to survival.
“Our fixtures include matches against teams around us which is a real help. Our destiny remains in our own hands,” he said.
“Everything is still tight in and around us, even tighter than it was in some ways [before the weekend].
“Every team who comes to our stadium over the rest of this season, including Liverpool, will be in for a tough game.
“We showed as a team at Everton that the confidence we need is there, the belief we need is there.”
TV pundit Alan Shearer claimed on Saturday night that without Marshall “Cardiff would already be relegated” and, while that may be a touch on the Bluebirds, the ‘keeper has certainly won them points on many occasions this term.
But he had no answer to Everton’s good fortune on Saturday when Gerard Deulofeu, signed on loan from Barcelona, fired the Toffees ahead with a shot which decisively clipped the thigh of City captain Steven Caulker and Coleman then mishit the winner as Cardiff looked good for a point.
“It was a tame shot I would have saved comfortably, but a deflection took the ball past me,” Marshall said of Deulofeu’s deflected drive.
“That first goal could have killed us, but we showed character as a team and still hit back to draw level.
“The second was a mishit. I tried to make myself as big as possible and Coleman tried to smash it in.
“The ball came off the outside of his boot and could have gone anywhere.
“But it went into the very top corner, it was incredible.
“We deserved a point at least but we can’t let it affect us.
“Every one of us showed we believe in what we are trying to do.
“We could have even nicked a win, but all we can do is believe and fight on.
“I believe the luck will turn but we have to earn it and keep believing that we can stay in the Premier League.”
Wed Mar 19, 2014 12:14 am
Marshall has been our best player for some time now. He has been faithful and consistent through thick and now thin. He has also saved about 30 more shots than any other PL keeper. Keeper is the word. We must hold on to him. Whatever the doom and gloom gang say about the season, it would have been a damn site worse if he had butter on his gloves!!
In a strange way, I hope he has a quiet game in Anfield because Brenda could be on the lookout for a new first string goalie. With his record, any of the big 4 would welcome him. Well hands off! He's a Bluebird, not a liver bird.
The weird thing is that Tan really seems to "get" him. He seems to understand the need to have a keeper like Marshall between the sticks.