Crewe Alexandra have made their best defensive start to a season since the 2002/03 promotion winning one that saw the club promoted back to the Championship as runners-up to Wigan Athletic.

The Railwaymen have conceded just 9 league goals so far this season in League One and that achievement has only been surpassed in the post-war ear by that campaign 18 years ago.

On that occasion, Dario Gradi’s side conceded just 9 goals in their opening 13 league fixtures. The stat is even more remarkable considering we were beaten 3-0 at home to Notts County in only our second game. Clayon Ince went on to keep a club record 18 clean sheets in the league.

The Crewe Alexandra side of 1974-75 also only conceded 9 goals in their opening 12 league games under manager Jimmy Melia. A poor run of results though would cost Melia his job by Christmas and he was later replaced on a permanent basis by the former Manchester United and Northern Ireland goalkeeper, Harry Gregg, as Crewe battled to remain in the Football League.

The Alex lads have an opportunity to equal that club record at Portsmouth this weekend if Will Jaaskelainen and his team-mates in front of him can keep a third consecutive clean-sheet.