Sir Alex Ferguson once famously coined that attack wins you games, but defence wins you titles, and one of his former Manchester United players is seemingly sticking to these words.
Sam Johnstone has been one of West Brom’s most important players this season, with stats from Transfermarkt showing that the former United academy graduate has played every minute of Championship football, keeping five clean sheets in the process.
Indeed, the 26-year-old shot-stopper has been one of the first team’s cornerstones over the past 12 months, yet in a recent interview with West Brom’s official website, Johnstone admitted that keeping clean sheets are the basis of the club powering through the Championship season.
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The Baggies currently sit top of the table, and Johnstone’s clean sheets have been an important part of Slaven Bilic’s side making a claim for themselves as the top side in the Championship.
Johnstone said: “I said a few weeks ago that if you keep a clean sheet it gives you a base to go on and win the game and that’s what happened on Monday night. We kept a clean sheet and scored the winner in the 90th minute.
“If you keep a clean sheet if gives you that base to build from and ensures you’re picking up at least a point. You’re then asking your attacking players to go and win you the game and we’ve got plenty of lads who can do that.”
In an era of the game where all-out-attack is the norm for most teams, having a reliable keeper between the sticks is even more crucial for big clubs, and for Johnstone, the West Brom no. 1 is on the money about how important keeping a clean sheet is nowadays in football.
The Baggies’ watertight defence is partially the reason why West Brom finds themselves as high as they are in the Championship table, and Johnstone’s comments on keeping clean sheet are a clear indicator that the 26-year-old keeper is keen on increasing his tally for the season.