Oliver Dovin has admitted that his period out of the Coventry City starting line-up has required a little mental adjustment on his part, after being placed in an unfamiliar situation – but, having regained his place in the first XI, he is as intent as ever to continue his goalkeeping progression.
Sweden international Dovin, who is London born, signed from Hammarby in the summer transfer window and was immediately thrust into the side by Mark Robins, but following the reverse at home to Derby County in early November, he lost his place and was replaced by Brad Collins.
Manager Frank Lampard, following the dismal 4-1 reverse at Portsmouth before Christmas, restored Dovin to the starting XI for the Boxing Day meeting with Plymouth Argyle and he helped his side to a comfortable 4-0 victory. While the Sky Blues failed to secure three more points on Sunday when hosting Millwall, Dovin contributed with another clean sheet.
With Collins having secured plenty of minutes his belt this season, and third choice keeper Ben Wilson also having made a number of appearances in league and cup, Dovin knows that his position is far from concrete and that he can only maintain the number one spot with performances – continuing at Cardiff City on New Year’s Day (KO 3pm).
“It’s a different situation to what I have been used to, but you have to grind and come to training every day and try and be better,” Dovin said. “We make each other better and it’s good to have competition.
“Since I’ve come here, I think I’ve taken steps as a footballer and as a goalkeeper and part of that is down to them, so I’m thankful for them. I’m learning all the time, I’m young and I just need to keep trying to improve.”
Dovin admits that a number of goals that City have conceded in recent weeks and months, prior to their double shut-out over Christmas, have been ‘rubbish’ and that they’ve often let sides back into games without having to work too hard to breach the Sky Blues’ rearguard.
“The team has been really strong defensively in the last two games and I think we’ve only faced three shots on target,” he added. “I think we can build defensively and then the offensive play will come.
“We conceded a lot of goals that were rubbish and in games where teams hadn’t had much of the ball or chances, and they still managed to score. In the last few games we’ve been very stable.”
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