Should Tom Heaton's heroics be rewarded with a run in the Cardiff City side?

By Scott Johnson on Mar 1, 12 03:23 PM in Cardiff City

"Marshy will be back in goal against West Ham, I'm sure, that's generally how it's been all season and I can't complain too much because Marshy has been excellent. Heart-breaking though it is to miss out in the league I have to look at the bigger picture and play a full part in the squad. I am working day in, day out to try and get into the team and hopefully I've shown in the Carling Cup I am ready when needed."

As fortunate as Cardiff City are in having two pretty evenly matched goalkeepers to choose from, they are particularly lucky that the understudy is so understanding and considerate with regards to his continued lack of first team football. Particularly when he provided the performance of his career at the weekend.

Tom Heaton was outstanding against Liverpool, comfortably the best player on show, contending with 19 shots on target over the course of 120 minutes, receiving a scarce 10 out of 10 Echo rating in the process. His penalty save from Steven Gerrard was remarkable and allowed Cardiff fans to dream of Mark Hudson lifting the trophy aloft and Europa League football for a brief moment.

For players that are on the fringes of the first team, making the most of rare opportunities and working hard in training are all you can do to press your claim for selection. Whether the chance occurs as a result of rotation, injury or suspension, the incentive is that if you capitalise on someone else's misfortune, the shirt should become yours to lose.

Marshall is certain to start against West Ham on Sunday and if Heaton can't dislodge him after his Carling Cup heroics, then he never will. With Marshall also struggling in recent weeks, the snub will surely be even harder to digest, although a tough run of fixtures and the recent absence of Mark Hudson have also contributed to his downturn in form.

Heaton would have had few supporters after the first leg of the Carling Cup semi-final, having flapped at a cross that resulted in the only goal of the game, although he made up for his error in the penalty shoot out in the return fixture. It just goes to show how precarious a goalkeeper's reputation is, see-sawing between the sublime and the ridiculous.

Malky Mackay has been a breath of fresh air and largely faultless in his time in charge, but he has his favourites and does appear loyal to a fault, as Robert Earnshaw has discovered. There is a danger that the likes of Heaton and Earnshaw may become demotivated by an indefinite lack of opportunities, a bit more squad rotation would also benefit the side in the long term.

I agreed with Mackay's decision to start the season with Marshall as first choice and I still think he is the better goalkeeper overall, but I also like to see healthy competition and excellence rewarded. I doubt even Marshall would begrudge Heaton a well deserved run in the first team, although the harsh reality is that it's just not going to happen.