New Saints signing Alex Pearce believes consistency is the key to keeping clean sheets.

The 19-year-old centre half has joined on loan from Reading until January and goes straight into the squad to take on Preston tomorrow.

Saints have already used SEVEN different centre half pairings in 14 Championship games this season with injuries and suspensions having taken their toll.

That has undoubtedly not helped Saints’ bid to shut teams out – they have kept five clean sheets so far – and Pearce concurs that consistency is an important factor.

He said: “The key is to be consistent in what you do.

“Keeping clean sheets is hard to do but if you get that partnership going at the back that helps.

“It’s not just the keeper and the back four that get clean sheets but the whole team – if the front two are working hard that helps as well.”

Pearce has made eight first team appearances for Reading this season as well as having previous loan spells at Norwich, Northampton and Bournemouth.

The Oxford-born defender made 11 League One appearances for Cherries in the first half of last season before ending the campaign with a similar amount of Championship games for Norwich.

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