Most of the focus has been on Ronan Curtis, Jamal Lowe and Co as fans enjoy Pompey's excellent start to the season.

But the boys at the back are not doing too badly, with the Football League Trophy win over Gillingham at Fratton Park bringing the latest in a series of clean sheets that have underpinned the successes at the other end of the pitch.

Matt Clarke has of course been pivotal to the defensive resilence and is enjoying the flying start, which Pompey next put on the line when Shrewsbury visit Fratton on Saturday.

After a goal and another firm display at the back to help the Blues beat Gillingham 4-0 Clarke told The News: 'The Carabao Cup was a bad result but the league is the main one, obviously, and this keeps it going.

‘We always fancy ourselves to score. So if we can keep it solid at the back as we are that’s good news.

‘We’ve started well with the results. The Luton game wasn’t how we wanted to play. So we’ve been trying to move forward from that game and progress. If you’ve watched all of our games you’d see the progress we’re making on the pitch.’

Clarke was delighted to be in a minority and kept in the side for the Gillingham game having also played on Satuday and told the paper: ‘For me, I take it as a positive. I want to play every game and I want the gaffer to play me every game.

‘I take it in my stride and if it happens again and again I’ll take it. ‘Whoever plays out of our defenders I fancy it’s a good partnership.'

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