Dundee United defender Lewis Toshney will be delighted if goalkeeper Cammy Bell doesn’t have to be the hero at Falkirk today.
Bell caught the attention of the football world with his three penalty saves in one half against Dunfermline last weekend, earning him the match ball and the heartfelt thanks of his teammates as United went on to win 3-1.
The Tangerines face another tricky away game this evening away to the Bairns and Toshney is hoping that Bell doesn’t have to be relied upon so much this time around.
The right-back said: “Cammy has been brilliant for us since he came in, making some vital saves at important times for the team.
“However, the three penalty saves were incredible and we all don’t think we will ever see anything like that again.
“It was massive for us and helped us get a great result.
“We shouldn’t be giving away three penalties in the first place, even though it’s nice to have a goalie who is so confident when it comes to saving them.
“Let’s just hope he isn’t so busy against Falkirk and that we can keep a clean sheet.
“Cammy is definitely up there with the keepers I have played with.
“I knew him from our time together at Kilmarnock and it was easy to see he was a top-class keeper.
“He then got his move to Rangers and did well again so I was delighted when I heard he was going to United.
“He signed just before I did so I knew the club had a really good keeper.
“His signing stood out at the time and he is a big name.
“He has been around the Scotland set-up and has a lot of experience.
“He talks a good game and is excellent at organising us lot at the back.
“The defence has changed about and we have never really had a settled back four so it’s important to have someone like him behind us.
“We will have to change again because of Paul Dixon’s suspension but once we get a settled back four we will really get to know each other’s games and kick on.”
Tannadice boss Ray McKinnon expressed the hope that the victory over the Pars – achieved with just 10 men after Dixon’s dismissal – can prove to be “pivotal.”
Toshney would like that to be the case too.
“I think our season probably started at Dunfermline and we need to take it on now,” he said.
“It was a massive result for us on Saturday and we knew we had to start back well after the international break.
“This is another big game as Falkirk is a hard place to go to, especially with the artificial pitch.
“Our boys have been absolutely buzzing in training this week, though.
“We are all looking forward to it.
“We are expecting a tough game but if we know if we do things right then we will cause them problems.”
There will be a familiar face in the Falkirk line-up this evening, with Toshney well acquainted with striker John Baird from their time together at Dundee.
Toshney, like Baird a former Raith Rovers player, said: “I know a few of the players at Falkirk – John Baird, Lewis Kidd and James Craigen.
“Bairdy might be wee but he is still a physical player.
“I was with him at Dundee and he was a good player then as well.
“I was the centre-half at the time so I was coming up against him in training quite a lot.
“He was a fine finisher and is someone who is always busy, putting you under pressure.
“I will probably give him a wee text before the game and I speak to him a fair bit.
“He was contacting me over the summer asking how I was getting on so we stay in touch.
“It will be good to see him again – I’m looking forward to it.
“It will be a tough game but we have players who can hurt them as well.”
