IAN Dunbavin has thrown down the gauntlet to fellow Accrington Stanley goalkeeper Rob Elliot in the battle for the number on jersey.

Summer signing Dunbavin has featured in every game so far this season, with on-loan stopper Elliot sidelined since with last two weeks of pre-season with an ankle injury.

And the former Scarborough and Shrewsbury goalkeeper believes he is growing in confidence with every game - most notably after his first clean sheet in the Carling Cup win over Nottingham Forest on Monday.

"I'd like to think they (the defenders) are getting used to playing in front of me," Dunbavin said.

"It's hard coming into a new team, playing with a new back four but I'd like to think I'm getting used to them and they're getting used to me and we'll build on that.

"I'd like to think I've done enough to earn myself a starting place in the team.

"When Rob comes back I'll push him and he's got to try to take the shirt off me now hopefully.

"I said at the beginning of the season I wasn't here just to keep the bench warm. I got the opportunity (to play) and I'd like to think that I've taken it."