Cold shoulder from Fenlon as effective as ‘hairdryer’ for Ben Williams

BEN WILLIAMS, the Hibs goalkeeper, recalls his first encounter with the fabled ‘hairdryer’ treatment liberally doled out by Sir Alex Ferguson, as the veteran manager turned the air blue at Chelsea.

Losing 2-1 at the interval, the Scot dished out his now-infamous dressing down, with one player in particular baring the brunt of the venom – as a startled Williams, on the bench at just 20 that afternoon, looked on, aghast.
Although professional courtesy prevents the Easter Road keeper from naming the victim, a little deductive logic would point to fellow goalkeeper Roy Carroll, who was squarely at fault for Boudewijn Zenden’s goal. He may have expected a similar response from his current manager, Pat Fenlon, following a dismal second-half capitulation against Motherwell last weekend, throwing away a 2-0 lead in the space of 25 mad minutes at Easter Road to ultimately lose 3-2.

Instead, the Hibs boss delivered a withering silence – however Williams contends that method was more than enough to convey the fury of the Irishman. “It’s been drilled into me coming through at Old Trafford that you put your all in for the game and if you make a mistake you get told about it,” said the former United youngster with a smile. “With the ‘hairdryer’ treatment or whatever. But then you get back on the training field on the Monday and you focus on the next game.

“I never had the ‘hairdryer’ directed at me but I saw it directed elsewhere and the first time you see it it takes you back a bit. I won’t say who the player it was but it was an away game at Stamford Bridge. It was a tight game we ended up drawing 2-2 but there was a mistake that led to Chelsea scoring. If you’re a true professional you will hold your hand up when you’ve made a mistake, and the player did – but he was still reminded about it. Sometimes you can rant and rave or you can sit in silence – and that can have just as much effect.

“Pat Fenlon, after the game last week, could have ranted and raved at all of us and it would have been justified...but we were not worth his words and sometimes silence works.”

Williams is desperate to see Hibs react to recent disappointments as a matter of personal pride. Although not culpable, Williams concedes that shipping six goals in the last two games plays on his mind and is something he will try to rectify against Kilmarnock tomorrow afternoon. “Whether you can do anything about them or not, when you concede six goals in two games you are desperate to go out and get a clean sheet,” he added. “We probably thought we would get back on track against Motherwell and apart from the last 20-25 minutes we were well on course to do so.”

Meanwhile, Kilmarnock manager Kenny Shiels claims he has no regrets over comments made regarding match officials.

Shiels, who is serving a three-match touchline ban, faces another SFA hearing for accusing Andrew Dallas of “fabricating” evidence. Shiels hit out after escaping further punishment for being sent to the stand in a Rugby Park match against St Johnstone last month, when Dallas was fourth official.

The Scottish Senior Football Referees’ Association welcomed the decision by SFA compliance officer Vincent Lunny to issue a notice of complaint for what they described as an “unprecedented attack” on the integrity of an official.

However, Shiels said yesterday: “I’ve got a clear conscience. No matter what people say about you, if you’ve got a clear conscience, no-one can hurt you. You can fear nothing. That’s where I’m at, I’m in that place. Not everyone can say that. When you’re sinned against, like I’ve been, you don’t regret anything. No-one has shown remorse to me and I’m surprised at that. But it’s important that we put it behind us and move on.” Shiels has also urged Liam Kelly to remain at Kilmarnock and continue his development in the SPL. The 22-year-old midfielder, who is suspended for tomorrow, has been on fine form and bagged a double in last week’s win over Aberdeen. Kelly is out of contract at the end of the season, but Shiels hopes he will be persuaded to pen a new deal.

He said: “I think he’s got some time to serve here and it’s important that he stays where he’s learning. We want him to stay in an environment that’s good for his improvement and the SPL is certainly providing him with that.”