IT was a long time in coming, but Colchester United finally kept a clean-sheet on their travels in the league, after a lapse of nearly one-and-a-half years.

Carl Marston

IT was a long time in coming, but Colchester United finally kept a clean-sheet on their travels in the league, after a lapse of nearly one-and-a-half years.

Before Saturday, the last time that the U's had kept a clean-sheet in an away league match was a 3-0 win at Preston on August 25, 2007.

Centre-half Pat Baldwin played a big part in the U's goalless stalemate at Bristol Rovers, and he too had been in the back four at Deepdale - alongside Matthew Connolly, George Elokobi and John White.

Baldwin confirmed: “I played in that Preston game as well. I was told that this was the last time we had a kept a clean-sheet away from home, and that was too long!

“It's not good enough really. It shouldn't have taken so long to get a clean-sheet on the road. But we need to kick on from here and get some more clean-sheets.

“At least it's a good sign. This was a hard-earned draw. Bristol Rovers is a difficult place to come, and we are happy with the point.

“Defensively we were good. We are forming good partnerships all over the pitch, and Paul Reid and I have been doing OK at the back.

“Jimmy Walker did not have a save to make. In fact, it's been like that in several other games as well, although we have tended to concede a few annoying goals from set pieces.

“Three or four months ago, this was a game that we would have lost, but not now,” added Baldwin.

The U's felt a little hard done by that Scott Vernon's 44th minute goal was not allowed to stand, because of a dubious offside decision against the U's striker.

Baldwin continued: “I had a good view of it. I felt that Scottie (Vernon) was behind their defender. I didn't think it was offside at the time, and the gaffer has since been told that this was confirmed by the video.

“But we'll take a 0-0. The games are coming thick and fast, and if we can win on Tuesday night (at home to Northampton), then this will be seen as a big point.”