x

Forster 34 Minutes From The Record Books

Fraser Forster will equal the Saints record for consecutive clean sheets should he shut out Chelsea on Saturday, but he could enter the record books a little bit earlier than that on Saturday.

Although all the focus has been on Fraser Forster keeping a 7th consecutive clean sheet and thus equaling Paul Jones club record from the 2000/01 campaign, the fact is Forster is only 34 minutes away from beating Jones total of 666 minutes without conceding a goal achieved during that run.

Before Forster suffered the injury to his knee last year he had not conceded a goal for 94 minutes so when you add the 540 minutes he has kept a clean sheet since his return, he is now only 34 minutes from passing Jones in the record books.

That will give Saints added incentive to beat Chelsea, that remains the first and foremost aim on Saturday, i'm sure Forster himself would rather concede and get three points than not do so and a 0-0 draw, such is Saints need for every point they can get in their quest for a top five finish.

But they can use the record books as an incentive, if they keep a clean sheet for the first 34 minutes and smash one record it will be the first step in beating Chelsea, if they then keep a clean sheet for the ful 90 then that will be a bigger step, in football sometimes you have to set small targets to achieve the bigger overall one.

Should Forster shut out Chelsea and equal the record then he will attempt to beat it only 30 miles along the coast at AFC Bournemouth where ironically watching from the opposite goal will be the man he replaced at St Mary's Artur Boruc.

The focus though in both games will be picking up maximum points, Saturday's game against Chelsea is the start of a big week for Saints with 3 games in 7 days, how many points are gained will go a long way to where Saints will finish at the end of the season.

What to read next:

A Rough Guide To Doncaster Rovers
Doncaster Rovers Eco- Power Stadium was opened in September 2007 and this will be our 3rd visit, the previous 2 being in 2008 & 2011, so for those who have never been before, here is all the information you need about as the locals call it "Donny"
Daily Echo Hint At Player Power Issues In Southampton Squad
In a surprise post on social media platform X The Daily Echo's Saints reporter Alfie House made a very cryptic statement about the Southampton squad, hinting at a division in the dressing room.
Southampton At Middlesbrough The Verdict
There is absolutely no way to dress this up other than this was a game that for a long period we controlled and then we collapsed into a disorganised rabble, to throw the game away in 15 second half minutes.
Middlesbrough 4 - 0 Southampton - Player Ratings and Reports
If you saw the match, please give us your player ratings and a mini match report.
Southampton At Middlesbrough The Preview
Saints have taken just 3 points from their last 5 games in the Championship, Boro themselves are struggling and are on a poor run that has seen them drop out of the automatic promotions spots. Can Tonda turn the tide for Southampton.
Goalkeeper Loan Move To Southampton Stalls
According to sources in Germany, the loan move of goalkeeper Daniel Peretz from parent club Bayern Munich to Saints, has been halted due to issues !
Southampton V Millwall The Verdict
Tonda Eckert rang the changes for this game, but it made little difference as the key 3 man central defence remained unchanged, in the end a draw was a fair result, but of not much help for Saints.
Southampton 0 - 0 Millwall - Player Ratings and Reports
If you saw the match, please give us your player ratings and a mini match report.
Southampton V Millwall In Pictures
A quick pictorial view of some of the game Saints have played against Millwall in the past 20 years or so, some familiar face in there, what are your memories of the likes of Jo Tessem, Francis Benali and Graziano Pelle
Southampton V Millwall The Preview
Saints start the year with a home game against the team who inflicted the first defeat of Tonda Eckert's tenure as manager, we need to show that we have learned the lessons from that game and others.