Praise for Portsmouth defensive rapport - but anyone could have slotted in and contributed

Before yesterday's clash against Shrewsbury, the Blues had kept four League One clean sheets and shipped just three goals since the turn of the year.

More impressively, Kenny Jackett’s side had conceded more than one goal only once in 2020 – in the the 4-2 FA Cup fourth-round victory over Championship side Barnsley.

Bolton, Christian Burgess, Sean Raggett and Steve Seddon have been Pompey’s back four for the most part, with Alex Bass in goal.

The quintet have played important roles to thrust the Blues into the automatic promotion race.

Bolton’s been delighted with the relationship the rearguard have built up.

The right-back insisted, however, that a similar run of results could have been achieved with any of the players that Jackett selected.

Bolton said: ‘It’s massive as a team to have that consistency in defence and build up those relationships.

‘We’ve had a good spell where it’s been the same back four, but I know it can all change

‘We’ve got to keep on top of our game and keep going.

‘Maybe it’s just clicked for us a little bit, but I think it could have happened with any of the lads that were in the squad.

‘Whoever was in the team, things just clicked and we started to go on a little run. It was one of them where anyone could have slotted in and we’d have done well.

‘It was more of a collective than an individual.’