Hibs goalkeeper Ofir ‘Rocky’ Marciano was happy to keep another clean sheet against Motherwell at Easter Road on Saturday but insisted that the whole team needs to continue working hard to maintain their good start to the season.
In the opening four games, Hibs have only conceded two goals and both came from set pieces, but only a world class save by Marciano in the opening minutes kept that record intact and sent the club to the top of the table albeit for 24-hours.
Head Coach Jack Ross has kept faith with the same defence of Paul McGinn, Ryan Porteous, Paul Hanlon and youngster Josh Doig, with defensive midfielder Alex Gogic in the holding position, but Marciano insists that everyone is playing their part thanks to a pressing game.
Speaking after the final whistle Marciano said: “When you get clean sheets, the confidence grows, but we need to keep working hard.
“There is more confidence now in the way we defend and it’s not just the defenders, the whole team from the high pressure that the strikers put on teams, the centre midfielders, the wingers, everyone is doing a really good job.
“We need to realise that it could be a struggle this season especially if we keep winning games because teams will come here and try to make it hard for us, although to be fair, Motherwell played quite well on and off the ball.
“But I was happy with the way we defended and we showed character. I always try to take the positives from the game. I am happy with the clean sheet and will take that.”
The Israeli international is in the last year of his contract and talks are ongoing regarding an extension but Marciano is concentrating of helping Hibs finish as high in the table as possible.
He added: “At the moment I am only focusing on playing for Hibs. They are a massive club who I really admire.
“I’m enjoying it here and I want to upgrade my game and be the best I can for this club. I try not to get distracted by that. I just try to work hard every day and be as good as I can.
“It’s been a bit weird with what has happened, but as a professional footballer, we need to just put everything to one side when we go out there. I just try to focus on my job.
“Of course, you always think about how to improve your life, but I have to be good out there on the pitch to earn the right to have a good contract.”
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
