Dean outlines his case for the defence

TARGET MAN . . . Athletic goalkeeper Dean Brill is striving for a healthy percentage of clean sheets.

THE only highlights Dean Brill wants reminding of are of balls hitting the back of the opposition net.

The 24-year-old Athletic goalkeeper was the unwitting subject of tabloid tittle-tattle this week, when a gossip column reported him being spotted having his follicles fiddled with in an upmarket salon also frequented by Manchester United star Gary Neville.

"I haven't got enough hair to have highlights," protested Brill, whose form, at least, has shone bright for Athletic this season.

The former Luton shot-stopper produced a pair of sharp low saves to keep the Colchester attack at bay last Saturday.

And overall, his form has improved markedly from a 2009-10 season marked by occasional sloppy goals conceded.

A more assured character these days, Brill revealed his pre-season target as he aims for a fifth clean sheet of the campaign when Athletic take on Southampton at the St Mary's Stadium tomorrow (3pm kick-off).

"We had a meeting before the first game of the season at Tranmere," Brill said.

"It was as a back four, along with Paul Gerrard the goalkeeping coach, and myself.

"We set ourselves a target of four clean sheets from every seven games.

"That would be fantastic come the end of the season. At the moment we are on four from 12, which isn't too bad."

Some fans are wondering why it is that Brill always directs his goal-kicks and other dead balls towards the head of right-sided midfielder Ritchie Jones.

He revealed that the tactic isn't so much down to the aerial prowess of the former Hartlepool player, more a way of ensuring the team is set up in the right shape to deal with the ball when it comes to ground.

"Jonesy doesn't really want to head the ball, but we hit that side of the pitch and then we all know where it is going so we can pick up the bits," Brill added.

Cutting Southampton to size won't be an easy task for Athletic.

Saints' last defeat on home soil was a 2-0 reverse to Rochdale, after the sacking of previous manager Alan Pardew and before the appointment of current boss Nigel Adkins.

However, despite their renowned attacking power Southampton have managed only five goals at home this season — fewer than every other club in npower League One bar fourth-placed Sheffield Wednesday and bottom-of-the-table Tranmere.