Frank Lampard has been quick to “big up” Brad Collins after the Coventry City goalkeeper has endured a week of “incredible scrutiny” – urging the fans to get behind the player.
The 28-year-old stopper was thrown into the fray at Bramall Lane when Oliver Dovin was stretchered off against Sheffield United and then kept his place to make his first start since just before Christmas in the 2-1 CBS Arena defeat to Burnley when he was criticised for the Clarets’ goals, most notably when involved in a mix-up with centre-back Liam Kitching for what turned out to be the winning strike.
The Sky Blues boss kept faith with the former Barnsley player for the midweek match with Portsmouth when he kept a welcome clean sheet, albeit not really tested to any degree on the night when City ran out 1-0 winners courtesy of a last minute wonder strike from Jamie Paterson.
Asked if it was nice to see the shutout after what must have been a tough game for the goalkeeper to go into after the criticism he had at the weekend, Lampard said: “Absolutely. He’s a goalie and I wouldn’t trade their position and I am pleased I played in midfield because if you give the ball away you have got a lot of things happening but if you’re a goalkeeper, the scrutiny is incredible.
“The way Brad’s handled it, I really want to big him up because he’s handled it by just doing what he does. He’s trained really well since being out of the team. Ollie gets injured and when he’s trained so well, whether he had to regain confidence or not, he has done just through being him and doing things right.
“And then he comes in against Burnley and it’s a tough one. The goals were a mix-up and he’s a bit involved in it, yes, and it can happen to top keepers everywhere. That happens.
“But to come in against Portsmouth, I think that can really give him a boost with a clean sheet. He didn’t have massive saves to make but he was confident with his feet, confident with his persona and that’s a big thing.
“So I have got him, Ben (Wilson) and Belly (Luke Bell). Ollie is out now and it’s important that we all get behind whatever goalkeeper we have in goal, so I was delighted for his clean sheet.”
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