Jeepers ’keepers

A GRAND battle of the goalkeepers lies in wait at Huish Park, with ex-Glovers man Jake Kean and Scott Loach providing an intriguing subplot to a game of great importance to both clubs.

Like Loach - a former England under-21 ’keeper with Watford - Kean’s career to date hasn’t lived up to its early promise. It was only when Athletic came knocking that the Blackburn Rovers man resumed regular first-team football.

Kean — Athletic’s sixth goalkeeper of the season — was at his best in the Port Vale victory, commanding his box with punches and catches and making one magnificent reaction stop.

Borrowed Rotherham man Loach — Yeovil’s sixth in a mixed goalkeeping bag this season — was similarly inspired against Walsall on Tuesday, saving a Tom Bradshaw penalty.

The Glovers missed a spot-kick themselves when Adam Morgan’s effort was saved by Richard O’Donnell, while Skiverton argued that an injury sustained by on-loan Swansea man Stephen Kingsley, who lost teeth in a sickening clash with Bradshaw, knocked his side off their stride.

Still, Athletic will know only too well not to be lulled into a false sense of security against bottom-of-the-table Yeovil. A similarly poor performance to that put in against the Saddlers — an FA Cup draw at Accrington — occurred prior to their four-goal win at SportsDirect.com Park.