Iron goalkeeper Josh Lillis ready to challenge for number 1 position
FOUR years after first making his Football League debut for Scunthorpe United, goalkeeper Josh Lillis is ready to challenge for the No 1 position.
He believes he has come of age after a six-month loan spell at Rochdale and now wants to play a part in helping the Iron battle for survival at Championship level.
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KEEP FIGHTING: Josh Lillis.
Lillis made a dramatic return to action at Glanford Park on Saturday as United halted a run of six successive home defeats with a battling 0-0 draw against Burnley.
It was the first time they had kept a clean sheet in front of their own fans since the goal-less draw with Barnsley back at the end of September.
And Lillis hopes it is the first step in the right direction towards climbing out of the bottom three in the table.
Now aged 23, he pulled off a couple of excellent second half saves, to win one of the man of the match awards.
Lillis was called back from his loan spell at Rochdale last Friday, with the Iron's first-choice keeper, Joe Murphy, struggling with an ankle injury.
"It's nice to be back. Joe and I are good friends – but he knows I want his place in the team," said Lillis, who came through the youth ranks at Scunthorpe and made his debut in a League One fixture at Millwall in December 2006.
Since then he has had to be satisfied with just a bit-part role, but his faith in him by United was underlined with a club record four-and-a-half-year contract.
"That's why I have been out on loan for the last six months at Rochdale, to get some regular first-team experience," said Lillis.
"I have played 27 or 28 games there, I have grown up now and I am back here again full time.
"I have come back to offer genuine competition now to Joe for his place. I want to be number one and play games.
"He knows that. But it's the same with him, when I have been in the team, he wants his place back."
Saturday was only the 13th league start for Lillis with United.
"It's always nice to keep a clean sheet," he continued.
"It's nice to pull off some saves too, but that's my job, that is what I get paid for.
"While I have been at Rochdale, I have been looking at the results back here and seeing things have not been going so well.
"The lads are in high spirits at Rochdale and that is what I tried to bring back with me to the dressing room here at Glanford Park.
"Obviously there are a few new faces in the team but the spirit is very good.
"We stayed nice and compact as a unit (against Burnley) and never got out of shape.
"We'll take a point and try to move on from there."
5 Comments
by 1500club, Lincs
Tuesday, January 25 2011, 5:32PM
“Not a patch on Murphy YET - same as when Williams left and based on two games Macnulty was meant to be a better option...judge players over a longer period.
HOWEVER - at this point, we should part ex Murphy for a striker plus cash from anyone interested....I dont understand why we didnt do this with Hooper and Celtic, they must have had a fringe centre forward to throw into the deal?
ONE JOSH LILLIS - mascot at the 1999 play off to first team #1!
Up the Iron!”
by CARL LEWIS, DERBY
Monday, January 24 2011, 10:09PM
“Josh Lillis,SUFC number 1 keeper,take note Bara ,sell Murphy to Coventry please and also bring in a goalscorer."UP THE IRON"!!!”
by jimmy krankie, crackerjack
Monday, January 24 2011, 12:32PM
“Welcome back Josh...should be number 1 now. Joe's been great for us, but has hardly looked a class act this season. Cash in on Murphy and Lillis in goal for the rest of the season.”
by Mr.G, right here
Monday, January 24 2011, 10:37AM
“Murphy's had his chance this season and not looked good enough at times. Play Lillis and give him a chance now against better teams”
by Dave, Paris
Monday, January 24 2011, 9:34AM
“It's great to know once Murphy moves on we have Lillis to replace him. Then again I think Lillis is good enough to really push Murphy before that time.”