Forget Marlon Pack or Paddy Lane: The Portsmouth FC man mountain who deserves serious credit: View | OneFootball

It may be Portsmouth’s attacking stars that are earning the plaudits as they sit pretty at the top of the League One table, but one star at the other end of the pitch is proving just as pivotal in the race for promotion.

Colby Bishop and Paddy Lane may have already hit double figures for the season, while Kusini Yengi has offered plenty as a backup striker, but it is Conor Shaughnessy who has kept a tight ship at the back to allow his teammates to flourish further forward.

John Mousinho’s side have the best defensive record in the whole division this season, which has been a crucial part to their outstanding success to currently sit five points clear in the third division, and nine points ahead of third-placed Bolton Wanderers.

With just 32 goals conceded in their 39 league matches to date; breaching Pompey’s backline has been something of an impossible task for many sides this year, and Shaughnessy has led by example to help his side keep a league-high 18 clean sheets this season.

Conor Shaughnessy 23/24 Portsmouth FC season

Having made the move to Fratton Park last summer from fellow League One side Burton Albion, the centre back has slotted seamlessly into the backline on the south coast; having played all but one of their league matches this season.

Four clean sheets in his first four matches was a sign of things to come for the 27-year-old, who didn’t taste defeat in the league for 15 games after making his debut, as Pompey came flying out the blocks at the start of the season.

Having conceded just eleven goals in that time, Shaughnessy immediately proved his indispensable nature within the Portsmouth side, with Connor Ogilivie, Joe Rafferty and Sean Raggett [pictured] all doing their bit as part of a defensive unit.

It hasn’t been all plain sailing for Mousinho during the course of the campaign though, with backline regular Regan Poole being ruled out for the rest of the season in November, after a ligament injury in the 1-0 defeat to Chesterfield in the FA Cup.

After making over 100 appearances for Lincoln City over the previous two seasons, Poole was one of 14 new arrivals to Fratton Park last summer, as the new boss looked to make his mark after being appointed in the January.

The former Oxford United captain has taken to management superbly well; forming a side that has only lost four times in the league this season, and continues to eek out the results needed to earn a return to the second tier for the first time in 13 seasons.

And while the likes of Bishop, Yengi and Norwich City loanee Abu Kamara have been catching the eye for their displays further up the field, Shaughnessy has been quietly going about his business in protecting fellow summer arrival Will Norris in goal; leading to the shot-stopper leading the league with 18 clean sheets this season.

The fact that Norris has only had to make 92 saves over the course of 39 matches is further proof of how well he has been guarded this season; a statistic that leaves Pompey needing just 13 points from their last seven games to guarantee promotion.

As well as proving to be a rock at the heart of the backline, Shaughnessy has also contributed massively to that points total at the other end of the pitch this season, with injury-time winners against Carlisle United and Wycombe Wanderers earlier this season earning his side four more points towards their tally.

The opener against fellow promotion chasers Bolton Wanderers could also prove to be crucial come the end of the season, with Pompey going on to beat the Trotters 2-0 just before Christmas.

Portsmouth FC 23/24 League One defensive stats

The numbers look great for Pompey in almost every defensive trait this season, with just three goals conceded within the opening 15 minutes of games proving how defensively sound they are, while no other team can better their 17 goals let in during the second-half of games.

That solidity - especially when trying to see games out to protect a victory - is massive when promotion is on the line, and 13 shutouts on the road is an astounding stat whichever division you are in.

Tie that in with seven goals scored within the first 15 minutes of matches this season, as well as 23 points when coming from behind, and you can see just why this side are Champions-elect in League One this season.

Shaughnessy has had as much of a role to play in that as anyone, and his monstrous presence at the back will be a comforting sight for Pompey fans week in, week out, with his assured performances at the back quietly ushering his side towards a Championship return.