Yeovil Town keeper Steve Mildenhall made just four clean sheets from his 29 League One appearances during the season

THERE is an old football cliche promoted by the former Arsenal boss George Graham that if "you don't concede you aren't going to lose" and perhaps that is something Yeovil Town should look at more closely during the summer break.

Yeovil, who finished the Coca-Cola League One season in a disappointing 18th spot, only managed eight clean sheets during the season, a statistic only "bettered" by relegated Port Vale who only managed six during the 46 league games.

Other teams to have only "enjoyed" eight games without conceding were Luton Town, Gillingham and AFC Bournemouth - the three clubs who joined Port Vale in the League One trapdoor.

Yeovil's number one, Steve Mildenhall, kept just four clean sheets during his 29 league appearances against Port Vale on August 18, Swindon Town on September 9, Leyton Orient on December 22 and Oldham Athletic on January 19.

Scott Flinders, who arrived at Huish Park on loan from Crystal Palace for nine matches while Mildenhall was out injured, kept two blanks in the games with Northampton Town on February 12 and at Gillingham on March 1.

Yeovil's two other clean sheets were made by Asmir Begovic in the 0-0 draw with Bristol Rovers at Huish Park on March 29 and Romain Larrieu at home to Luton Town on October 2. Both Larrieu and Begovic were at Huish Park on loan, with Mildenhall out injured, from Plymouth Argyle and Portsmouth respectively.

Although it would be unfair to blame the keepers solely on the lack of clean sheets considering it is an all-round defensive responsibility, it could be argued that the shot-stoppers do take the plaudits when the number of "blanks" is far more impressive.

At the other end of the League One scale for clean sheets were Nottingham Forest, who gained automatic promotion last weekend, topped the chart with 24 blanks with play-off sides Doncaster Rovers and Leeds United notching 20.

3:54pm Friday 9th May 2008

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