Portsmouth seeking more defensive joy at record-breaking setting of Bristol City's Ashton Gate

On Sunday, the Blues will return, enjoying their finest defensive run since that March 2011 feat.

Jamie Ashdown was the goalkeeper who went 636 minutes without conceding, with Steve Cotterill his manager.

The achievement was marked at Bristol City, albeit the Championship encounter finishing in a 2-1 defeat for the visitors.

Nonetheless, by the time Albert Adomah netted the Robins’ opener, Ashdown had surpassed Peter Mellor’s 33-year post-war league record, established in September 1978.

It’s an accomplishment which has remained unparallelled ever since, although the current return of 476 minutes represents the best in the subsequent decade.

To date, Kenny Jackett’s side have registered five successive clean sheets in all competitions.

It has been 37 days since they last conceded – through Keshi Anderson at Blackpool on December 1.

Admittedly, Jackett’s men haven’t been able to play since December 18. Yet it still remains 476 minutes without letting in a goal.

Pompey have been undefeated in four League One matches and beaten Cheltenham to progress in the Papa John’s Trophy.

That’s four clean sheets for Craig MacGillivray and one for Alex Bass, although it will be the Scot between the sticks at Bristol City in Sunday’s FA Cup encounter.

Ashdown’s record was set between February-March 2011 – and is a league best for Pompey.

In terms of all competitions, Mellor holds the existing club record of seven clean sheets and 654 minutes.

Since Ashdown’s league record almost a decade ago, the Blues have three times reached the 400-minute mark without conceding.

Under Richie Barker, they tallied 411 minutes from February-March 2014, while, the following season, Andy Awford oversaw 402 minutes and four league games.

More recently, Pompey went 439 minutes without conceding from November-December 2017 in Jackett’s first campaign.

Presently the tally is 476 minutes as they head back to Bristol City.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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