It’s all going Brill

GAINING IN CONFIDENCE . . . Dean Brill has produced a string of excellent performances following a shaky start to his Athletic career.

PARK LIFE:

Dean firmly set as Latics number one

GOALKEEPER Dean Brill is a rehabilitated man, according to his manager Dave Penney.

The former Luton stopper cut a nervous figure earlier this season and conceded a number of untidy goals.

That prompted Penney to bring in an alternative number one, with Darryl Flahavan arriving on loan from Crystal Palace in November, initially for a one-month loan which was extended to two.

In that time, the 24-year-old Brill was demoted to the reserves in a bid to build his confidence back up while out of the limelight.

But after Flahavan was forced to cut short his initial loan spell at Boundary Park due to injury, Brill reclaimed the starting spot and hasn't looked back since — and Flahavan's return to the club seems to have focused his efforts even more.

"Dean did okay then let in a couple of soft goals and came out of the team," said Penney, who saw his number one earn a point for his team at Exeter thanks to a last-minute penalty save at St James' Park.

"He worked hard in the reserves and in training and has come back in after Darryl (Flahavan) fractured his cheekbone.

"He deserves to be in there and looks an accomplished goalkeeper now.

"That is what we thought we had bought and now he is back at it."

Brill's clean sheet against Leyton Orient on Tuesday night was his 11th of the season.