Football League solve Brentford keeper crisis

4:50pm Thursday 4th December 2008

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Brentford youth team goalkeeper Lloyd Anderson will be spared another baptism of fire after the Football League this week allowed boss Andy Scott to sign another shotstopper on a one game loan.

Ben Hamer’s sending off at Barrow sees him suspended for the weekend and an injury to usual second-string Seb Brown had left the Bees manager with only Anderson available to fill the number one shirt.

The 18-year-old was forced into action on Friday when Reading loanee Hamer had been given his marching orders and while Scott was pleased with his performance, he wasn’t prepared to risk him for Saturday’s trip to Accrington.

“When you are given the opportunity to sign a player as an emergency loan you take it. It is not something you turn down,” he said.

“Friday was Lloyd’s first appearance and while it was good experience for him, he had a bit of a hard time given the circumstances in which he was called into action.

“He’ll be a better player for it, but he needs time to adjust to senior football.”

Hamer was last week tipped for an England U21 call-up by his boss after his match winning display Luton Town, but a first half howler at Barrow cost his side a place in the FA Cup third round draw and a possible trip to Middlesbrough.

But if the defeat in Cumbria was the lowest point in Scott’s managerial career, he certainly wasn’t admitting it.

“It wasn’t good, but there were extenuating circumstances. It was our third game in six days, the pitch was heavy and we were down to ten men,” he added.

“There was plenty of stuff to be positive about in the second half, particularly the way we responded to the set-back.

“Ben has held his hand up and admitted making an error. That is it for me and we move on to the next game.”