TOP TIER SHU T-OU T RECORD WOULD BE GREAT... BUT I’D RATHER JUST GET THREE POINTS SAYS ZANDER CLARK

Zander Clark is on the verge of a new shutout record but the St Johnstone stopper will feel no added pressure between the posts this weekend.

The Perth number one can become the first goalkeeper in the club’s history to keep five consecutive clean sheets at top-flight level.

Saints historian Brian Doyle was called into action in the aftermath of last weekend’s 1-0 victory at Hibernian, which was a fourth win and game without conceding on the spin.

He established that previous goalkeepers to keep four clean sheets in a row at top-flight level included Sandy McLaren in 1928, Andy Rhodes in 1992 and Peter Enckelman in 2011.

But now Clark has the chance to create history when Hamilton visit McDiarmid Park for Scottish Premiership action on Saturday afternoon.

“It’s a nice thing to have in your sights and it stems back a while,” Clark said. “It would be good if I could get that done.

“But, if we don’t, as long as we win the game then that is the main concern for us. If the clean sheet comes then excellent.

“At the end of the day it’s more important that we get three points.

“It’s just another game and one where we’ll go in with the same mindset of, if you keep a clean sheet, you’re giving yourself a chance to win.

“It will be the exact same mindset regardless if there is a record to be broken or not. It’s the same mentality going into it.

“If you can keep the ball out of the net, then hopefully the attacking players can put the ball in.

“I maybe used to feel pressure at the start in the first few games for the club because it’s a big occasion.

“But I’ve played 70 odd games for the club now and it’s starting to feel more natural. The big games are the ones you thrive on.

“You still feel wee butterflies in the stomach before the game starts.

“But once you cross the line and the whistle goes, you focus on what you train to do every day of the week.”

Clark’s four consecutive clean sheets have come against Motherwell, St Mirren, Livingston and Hibernian. Before that run, Saints were thrashed 6-0 by Celtic at McDiarmid Park.

“After the Celtic game I got selected for a drug test so missed the aftermath,” Clark said. “By the time I got back everyone was away.

“Conceding six is not the best. It’s never nice when you need to pick the ball out of the net once, never mind six times.

“It’s part and parcel of being a goalkeeper because you are going to be on the end of some games like that.