Defensive Key

Harking back to previous promotion seasons, Jalal, is quoted in the Bournemouth Evening Echo as saying: "A good defensive record is vital to every team's success and you only have to look at the top of the Premier League to see evidence of that. You don't get anywhere without a successful defence. I couldn't have any more faith in the lads in front of me. We get on each other's backs during the games but that's all part of it and we're all mates afterwards. Clean sheets start from the front so it's a team effort. The more we can keep, the better. It's a great feeling to know we've come off the pitch and nobody has been able to get beyond the defence. I kept 17 last season and want to beat that this season. I think we've got the ability to pass that. We know we've got the ability in our squad, it's about going on to the pitch to show everybody else. We know people are going to be chasing us because we're top of the league so we've got to go out in every game and dig out results".

Looking back to previous promotion (and near promotion) winning sides, here are their defensive records:
1947/48 - 35 goals conceeded in 42 league matches (finished 2nd, but not promoted)
1961/62 - 45 goals conceeded in 46 league matches (finished 3rd, but not promoted)
1970/71 - 46 goals conceeded in 46 league matches
1971/72 - 37 goals conceeded in 46 league matches (finished 3rd, but not promoted)
1981/82 - 30 goals conceeded in 46 league matches
1986/87 - 40 goals conceeded in 46 league matches
2002/03 - 48 goals conceeded in 46 league matches