I heard Ryan Porteous isn't happy with me but there was no joy after THAT X-rated Scotland tackle – Tam McManus

Let's put it this way, I’m not expecting to be top of Ryan Porteous ’ Christmas card list this winter.

Word has got back to me the Scotland stopper hasn’t been too happy with some of the things I’ve written about him down the years. I’ve been critical of some of the silly scrapes and needless sending-offs he got himself involved in during his time at Hibs. It’s certainly not personal. My job is to give my opinion on matters at Easter Road as truthfully as I can – not to be a cheerleader for the club.

So when I thought he went over the score with a couple of tackles, I said so. From what I gather, Ryan has taken exception to those comments and has made sure his feelings have been passed back to me. That’s fine. He has the right to think I’m talking nonsense just as I have the right to think it’s about time he stopped diving into reckless challenges. We’re never going to be best mates and that’s just the way it goes when you operate on the side of the business that I do now.

But while Ryan might not believe this, I did actually feel for him on Friday night as he got his Munich marching orders. I took no joy at all seeing him being sent off against Germany.

It was the biggest game of his life, kicking off the Euros against the host nation in front of a sold-out Allianz Arena, with millions more watching across the continent. Things started badly – and then only got worse.

Scotland had shipped two goals already when Porteous was forced to leap into a challenge just as Ilkay Gundogan looked set to ram home a third. Now I don’t think for a second he meant the Germany skipper any harm but he’s very lucky Gundogan didn’t suffer serious injury because his challenge was a shocker. He’s caught the Barca man halfway up his leg and it’s only good fortune the tackle did no lasting damage.

It comes down to technique. Ryan doesn’t have VAR to worry about when he’s playing with Watford in the Championship. But at big events like this, you simply can’t go into a tackle with both feet off the ground and expect to get away with it.

It was a stick-on red card and a penalty. Once the ref saw the replay, there was no way Ryan was going to be allowed to stay on the pitch.

He’ll have trudged back to the dressing room feeling awful. I know from experience what that’s like. OK, I’ve never reached the heights Ryan has in playing at a major tournament, but I have taken that long, lonely walk down the tunnel feeling like you’ve let everyone down.

During my Dundee days, I was sent off at the end of a crucial derby clash with United after trying to decapitate Barry Robson in the 88th minute. It was a massive match, a relegation six-pointer at Dens.

We were losing 2-1 in a game we really had to win if we were to survive… and my head went. I remember being sat on my own before the other lads came in after the final whistle knowing I’d messed it up. Like Porto, I was handed a two-game ban and had to sit there feeling helpless as we fought in vain against the drop.

Ryan will be feeling exactly the same this week as he watches the games against Switzerland and Hungary, praying that he’s not kicked his last ball at the Euros. It’s up to Clarke and the rest of the team to get round him and lift his spirits.

And again, Ryan might not believe this, but nothing would please me more if the team can bail him out and Ryan gets the chance to redeem himself in the last 16. Hopefully he gets that opportunity to shut up the critics – namely me – for good!

It’s a tall order as Switzerland showed against Hungary how good they are. We simply have to be more aggressive - and by that I don’t mean leaping into more x-rated tackles – if we’re to keep our hopes alive going into Sunday’s Hungary game.

I’ve joined the travelling Tartan Army in Cologne for the game but it seems the last few days drinking have taken a toll. Most of the punters look a bit drained after a week on the lash and I’ll admit, I’m feeling the pace myself.

Yesterday was a recovery day ahead of the mayhem that awaits in Cologne. But I’ll be pouring another to toast the memory of Hibs kitman Tam McCourt, who sadly died this week.

Tam was an amazing character and I was stunned to hear of his passing. Guys like him are what make clubs like Hibs special. As well as tending to the kit, he also worked as the club’s groundsman but it was his cutting craic that made him so popular.

He had a big chin so me and the other boys would always wind him up by calling him Bruce Forsyth or David Chinola – but he loved it! He’d hit back any time I went back to Easter Road with another club by saying: “Oh Tam, on the bench again? Good, I’ve mowed a wee square behind the goals for you to warm up on!” He was one of a kind and along with his wife Joyce and son Thomas, who also worked for the club, they formed Hibs heart and soul. I’ll be thinking of them this week.