Since being handed the number one shirt at AFC Wimbledon, James Shea has gone from strength to strength – and the stopper knows who is responsible.

A summer signing from Harrow Borough, Shea and resident keeper Ross Worner did battle for the gloves in pre-season.

Dons boss Neal Ardley opted for Shea and the 23-year-old former Arsenal trainee has not missed a game since, while Worner has joined Woking of the Conference Premier on loan.

Ironically, the Dons’ back-line has leaked more goals this season than at this stage last term (21 compared to 18), but Shea remains firmly in the hot seat.

Shea said: “Since coming here I have progressed as a keeper and that is down to Ashley [Bayes] the goalkeeping coach.

“Playing games helps, but having a good goalkeeping coach is so important, and Ashley is just that.

“He is a blinding character too and you can talk to him about anything, be it football related or not.”

He added: “I have a good relationship with him and long may it continue.”

Shea’s man of the match performance in the 0-0 draw with Plymouth Argyle demonstrated the areas in which he reckons he has improved.

While he was not drawn upon to pull off any world class saves, he commanded his penalty area well and did the simple things well.

He said: “Ashley and I looked back at some DVDs at the start of the season, and we noticed my starting position was a little deep, so we have done some work on that.

“I have become bolder in the penalty area and come for a few more crosses now.”

He added: “At the end of the day, my job is to keep the ball out of the net. It does not matter if it is pretty or not.

“You have to worry about yourself, and you have to be a little bit selfish.

“I still want to improve as much as I can, and as long as I am with Ashley, I will get better and better.”

Dons host bottom of the table Tranmere Rovers tomorrow, where three points could take them to within striking distance of the League Two play-offs – somewhere Shea is convinced they will be come the end of the season.

“We need to find some consistency, but we can get into the play-offs,” he said.

“We’re starting to play well at home, we’re getting goals and now we’re starting to keep clean sheets, so if we can build on that, the play-offs are within reach.”