EXCLUSIVE: Dundee keeper Ian Lawlor on battle for the gloves at Dens Park and explaining his Hamilton wonder save

Earlier this season Ian Lawlor was Dundee’s third-choice goalkeeper.

Youngster Harry Sharp started the campaign in confident fashion, playing the first 12 matches of the season.

Then came the turn of the more experienced Adam Legzdins for the next six.

Even making the bench at times was difficult for 28-year-old Irishman Lawlor.

But then injury struck again for former Derby and Birmingham man Legzdins.

Combined with Sharp suffering from illness, finally Lawlor got his chance between the sticks.

And he has grasped it with both hands.

Incredible record

Since coming in against Morton a month ago, Lawlor has kept three clean sheets in five games with the Dark Blues unbeaten in that time.

Go back across his entire Dundee career and the numbers make even better reading.

The former Man City kid has played 15 times for Dundee, losing just three times – once against Celtic, once against Rangers and another against Livingston.

Six wins and six draws have come in that time with six clean sheets.

Two of those have come in the last two games.

“That’s what our job is based on: keeping the ball out of the net any way you can,” Lawlor told the Courier.

“It’s nice to have two in a row.

“That’s positive and gives us momentum and confidence.

“I don’t really keep track of clean sheets and things like that, though. I don’t mean that in a big-time way because it’s more important that we win.

“But it builds momentum and builds confidence – not only with me but with the guys who haven’t been playing as well, the other goalies, because that’s the work we do day in, day out.

“It’s a tight-knit group. No matter who is playing, we all have each other’s back.

“We have three goalkeepers who could each play week in, week out.

“For me, there’s no pecking order.

“We’re all as good as each other. We all have the drive and passion to play every single week.

“No matter who is playing, the three of us push each other every single day in training and want to be the best we can be.”

Hamilton wonder save

Saturday saw Lawlor put in a Man-of-the-Match performance, keeping Hamilton out with some tremendous saves.

None more so than a flying stop to deny Andy Winter before getting up to deny the rebound from Andy Ryan.

So, in his own words, how does Lawlor explain the save?

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“I couldn’t tell you!” he laughed.

“I don’t know, we practice a lot with Alan Combe, the goalie coach, on reaction stuff.

“If you are not going to make it, just get after the ball and through yourself at it.

“You never know where it might hit you, it might hit you on the head or face.

“But it’s about keeping the ball out of the net.

“Luckily enough I did.”

‘I was in trouble!’

And the second-half effort from Reegan Mimnaugh that rattled the goal-frame, not just once but twice?

“I was in trouble when it left his foot!” the goalie added.

“I knew that. It was a hell of a strike and he can do that.

“It hit one post and came across to hit the opposite one.

“Luckily enough a bit of fortune came our way this time.”