Ged Brannan has defended on-loan Norwich City goalkeeper Archie Mair who has faced criticism over the past few weeks at Morecambe. 

The Scotland youth international swapped National League Gateshead for EFL football with Morecambe in January and has established himself as number one during his period at the Mazuma Mobile Stadium. 

Mair was heavily criticised after making two errors in their 3-2 defeat to Gillingham last month, misjudging Tim Dieng's effort before making a mistake which led to Connor Mahoney's late winner. 

That led many to question his role in the team, and some Shrimpers fans called for him to be dropped for their Easter fixtures against Accrington Stanley and Barrow - both of which ended in 2-1 victories with Mair making a flurry of excellent stops. 

Brannan, who enjoyed a brief loan spell at Norwich in 1998 as a player, became Morecambe boss in November and has kept faith in Mair despite some concerns over his performances. 

“He’s been great, he’s had one bad game," Morecambe boss Brannan told the Lancaster Guardian. 

“Some people forget some of the saves he’s made before and can’t wait to point the finger. He’s a young lad who’s still learning the game, bearing in mind he hasn’t played in the EFL before.

“You can make mistakes all over the pitch, and sometimes people have to remember that players have families and feelings as well.”

Mair is one of several City players out of contract this summer. The goalkeeper joined Norwich from Aberdeen in 2019 and has spent the majority of his time in Norfolk out on loan to King's Lynn Town, Lincoln City, Notts County, Gateshead and now Morecambe. 

Brannan's vote of confidence will be geared towards pushing Mair as Morecambe continue their push for the play-offs. They sit two points behind seventh-placed Crawley with five matches to go. 

“He’s been brilliant for us since he’s come,” Brannan said of the 23-year-old, who has played all 17 league games since moving to the north west.

“If you go through the whole team, they’ve all made mistakes over the season.

“A goalkeeper makes a mistake, everyone points a finger at him, but I’m not like that; we win as a team and lose as a team.”