WATFORD Goalkeeper coach Alec Chamberlain has spoken to www.watfordfc.com about how bad luck and injuries decimated his department in the space of seven days.

Back on Friday 19 September, the Hornets had three good-quality stoppers ready for league and cup action in Mart Poom, Scott Loach and Richard Lee.

Then the next day Estonian Poom seriously injured his shoulder and the following weekend, Loach left the field early with a rare abdominal injury.
 
The double-injury propelled third choice Lee back into the spotlight after he recovered from a knee knock, which originally meant he missed the start of the campaign.

Lee is now between the sticks while the Golden Boys drafted in Mark Tyler from Peterborough on loan for a month.

Chamberlain, once a favourite at Vicarage Road himself, is now in charge of the goalkeepers at the club. He turned out in well over 250 games for the Golden Boys and celebrated his testimonial at the club in 2005/06.

He has never seen anything like the injury situation which has taken hold, especially so between the sticks.

Poom faces a lengthy period on the sidelines now

He said: "We tempted fate by saying the only area that was going strong was the goalkeeper area, then within seven or eight days that was decimated really.

"What with Poomy getting that bad shoulder injury, Richard was chomping at the bit to get involved again.

"Whilst we were devastated for Poomy, at least we had two very good, fit goalkeepers available. Scott was obviously itching for his chance, which he showed in the Carling Cup that he was ready for.

"He came on against Reading and did well, as he did against West Ham too. It was going to be interesting to see how he coped at Sheffield United in a different match, a different situation.

"Then within 10 minutes he's limping off. They say a week is a long time in politics, it's a long time in football as well!

"The injuries have been awful, but to come over to the goalkeeping side is unusual. I've never known two first team goalkeepers to get injured at one club like this, for us to go from three to take someone on loan is incredible really."

Chamberlain's knowledge and contacts in the football world played a big part with bringing in Tyler from Peterborough.

The former Hornet knows Andy Dibble, the ex-stopper, who occupies Chamberlain's role at London Road under the eye of boss Darren Ferguson.

With Tyler's name in mind, Chamberlain wasn't afraid to bring it to the table when it came to discussing who to bring in on loan.

He added: "Mark has played over 400 games for Peterborough, they're also the club I used to support as a boy so I've known about him for 10 years.

"I knew from Andy Dibble that he was available to come on loan as cover, Mark's opportunities have been very limited.

Aidy and Alec share a joke on the training pitch

"After Scott Loach's injury, I got together with the manager, chief scout and our head of recruitment John Stephenson, and we had a list and sat down in Sheffield and went through things.

"Aidy was happy with Mark because he knew him from his time at Peterborough and to be honest, we like promising youngsters, but its nice to have someone with that experience that can come on and not be fazed by that situation.

"He's a very good goalkeeper and has been unfortunate at Peterborough, hopefully it will work both ways and hopefully Mark will benefit from it. We're glad to have him and it depends on how long Scott's injury goes on for."

The start of pre-season marked a race to win the number one jersey and Poom came out on top after a promising start.

Chamberlain said: "Poomy did very well in pre season and came back very determined, I think he was disappointed how last season had gone. He's very, very professional and a very fit guy and wanted to prove that he should be the first team goalkeeper.

"He started the season very well and we were very pleased and it is very unfortunate for us and him that he got that injury.

"Again, it was quite a freakish injury. When you see it in slow motion the challenge that Doyle put in, which was fair and honest, had just spun him round and he was out of control, so when he's come down he's landed on his shoulder, and not had anything to break his fall.

"The shoulder had taken the brunt of him coming down from up high, he's a big guy, landing on the point of your shoulder, obviously something's got to give.

"He's had the operation now and we're thinking its going to be six months really. He's got to get the whole area as strong as possible and be as fit as he can for when he starts goalkeeping again."

Poom limped out of action against Reading

As well as Tyler there's also internal replacements that the 'Orns can call upon. The Academy is blessed with two international goalkeepers in Hungarian Bo Antal and Welsh stopper Jonathan North.

Chamberlain revealed that he spends as much time as possible with the youngsters, the pair train around three times a week with him at London Colney.

LET WATFORD BE THE PERFECT HOST