Saints keeper brought in on loan

By Wendy Gee 

THE only way is Essex for Southampton's under-21 goalkeeper Jack Dovey today.

After being named on the bench for Saints' Carling Cup tie at Selhurst Park on Tuesday, Dovey will be hitting the road to Thurrock with Eastleigh in the Blue Square Bet South.

The Totton lad, who turned 19 last Sunday, has been signed on a month's loan by the Spitfires in the wake of Monday's calamitous 3-0 defeat at Chelmsford City.

Manager Ian Baird branded Eastleigh's defensive decisions "shocking" that night and believes his regular goalkeeper Gareth Barfoot will benefit from the competition provided by the young Saint.

Since Eastleigh parted company with ex-Bristol Rovers 'keeper Mike Green after the first game of the season, Barfoot has had no major rival for the number 1 shirt.

"Due to the budget, I haven't been able to bring in any genuine competition for Gareth and that's unhealthy for everyone," Baird explained.

"All players respond better to competition for places and that's the reason I've brought Jack Dovey in.

"Every goalkeeper is prone to a rick every now and then and Gareth hasn't had the competition he needs.

"Jack is a local lad and I got him through speaking to Jason Dodd and Martin Hunter at Southampton."

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