Forster proud as punch to set record

Fraser Forster says he's delighted to have set a new Scottish top flight record for clean sheets.

Fraser Forster says he's delighted to have set a new Scottish top flight record for clean sheets in Celtic's 2-0 win over Hearts at Tynecastle.

The English goalkeeper kept a clean sheet for the 13th consecutive game on Saturday to break Bobby Clark's 43-year-old record that he had set while playing for Aberdeen in 1971.

Forster hasn't conceded a goal in 1215 minutes of Scottish Premiership action since Niall McGinn scored against him for Aberdeen in November last year.

The keeper had already broken a 92-year-old club record for clean sheets but revealed he hasn't been paying much attention to his achievements.

"I am delighted. It's obviously been talked about a lot over the last week so it's nice to get there in the end and keep a clean sheet," Forster said.

"It's just something that has been in the background and I've not even really given it much thought. It was just important to keep on working hard and this has been a real bonus.

"Myself and goalkeeping coach Stevie Woods sat down at the start of the season and came up with the goals we were aiming for and obviously this wasn't really one of them. It's just really come out of the blue and it's something we are very proud of as a club.

"We've obviously passed a couple of records along the way and it just seems each week there is a different one to the last.

"I think it is a real credit to us as a team and as a back four it is something we are very proud of and we will try to keep it going as long as we can."

The English 'keeper is now closing on former Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar's British record of 1311 minutes.

Forster, though, said he did not feel any extra pressure on him.

"Not really. I think more and more people are beginning to talk about it and it's not something I've been going into games thinking about.

"He was an absolute fantastic keeper and he played for Man United for years. We all know what Edwin van der Sar is about."

Earlier this month former English goalkeeper Peter Shilton warned Forster he would have to quit Celtic if he had long-term ambitions with the national team.

And the keeper was at a loss as to whether his record-breaking achievements would boost his chances of being on the plane to the World Cup finals in Brazil in the summer.

"It's not really for me to say. The people I speak to are very positive and they understand what it is about," Forster said.

"There are games where you don't have a lot to do but you might have one save that you've got to make. You can just do what you can do and stay switched on.

"You can only do what you can do. It's important I just focus on doing the basics for Celtic week-in week-out. It's someone else's decision at the end of the day whether I go or not."


3 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP


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