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Hearts keeper Banks has sympathy for Makalambay

"It's tough, because obviously he's made a couple of decent saves in the first half," Banks said. "I think the header was quite close, five yards out or something, and there your reactions are limited with time really. So it's a tough one, but I'm sure he'll look at it and they (Makalambay and Hibs goalkeeping coach Gordon Marshall] will be working on reactions and things. He'll come back and make good saves like he did in the first half, there's no doubt about that.

"He's come for some great crosses, he's 6ft 8in tall or whatever he is, he's done his job there. It's unfortunate he might have done better with the goal."

Makalambay himself appeared unwilling to take full responsibility for the goal, and his manager, Mixu Paatelainen, pointed out that other players could have done better before the ball got to Velicka.

Paatelainen said: "How the goal came was not a goalkeeping error. It was a set-piece and we lost a vitally important header. At the knock-down we were not sharp enough either. There were plenty other players around. It is definitely not the case of pointing the finger at one player."

Former Chelsea keeper Makalambay, who left the pitch to the sound of his name being chanted by the home supporters, added: "Let them sing whatever they want. At least they know my name. It is some kind of celebrity for me. I am not upset with myself about the goal and it is not as if it was a mistake or anything. It was such a close header and I tried to stop it. I didn't do it quite well enough. It was more a reaction than anything else."

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