´Stubborn´ Levein under pressure, says Brown

Wales goalkeeper Jason Brown said Scotland manager Craig Levein is under pressure going in to Friday’s World Cup 2014 clash in Cardiff.

Chris Coleman has failed to win either of his first two qualifiers as Wales boss, but Brown believes the Scottish press and supporters have put more pressure on their national team manager after Levein’s men drew both of their opening qualifiers.

“The only manager under pressure is Craig Levein,” the 30-year-old on-loan Aberdeen goalkeeper told BBC Sport.

“I live in Scotland. You see the press there. You hear the supporters.”

He also views Levein’s decision to recall exiled striker Steven Fletcher as a sign of the pressure getting to the manager.

“The manager stuck by his guns and (has) been stubborn for long time,” he added.

“All of a sudden he has gone back on that.”

Coleman’s Wales have not picked up a point from their first two games after defeats at home to Belgium and away to Serbia, but Brown defended his beleaguered boss, who took over the national reins after the tragic passing of former manager Gary Speed.

“He has taken over in extremely tough circumstances,” he said.

“Gary Speed was so influential on the squad with the players.

“So as players, we are fully behind the manager. To be fair, everyone has just got on with that it, nothing’s been made of it. The manager makes decisions. That’s what he is, the manager. We stick by whatever he does.”