Each week, BwB will give a sample from the Readers’ Queries file in the old Sporting Post. Note that some of these statistics may have been added to after being published in The Sporting Post queries section.
SP Query — What’s Alan Rough’s longest time without conceding a goal for Scotland? What is the international record for a keeper keeping his goal intact? — L.A.
SP Answer — Rough has on three occasions played three consecutive internationals without loss.
In 1977, he had shut-outs against Wales, Northern Ireland and Sweden.
In 1980-81, it was against Sweden, Portugal and Israel.
He hasn’t been beaten in the last three internationals against England, Sweden and Northern Ireland (also 1981) but can stretch his record if he has a clean sheet against Portugal on November 18 (1981).
Alan is still a long way behind Italy’s Dino Zoff, whose record stretched for 1143 minutes.
It began in September 1972 when he was beaten by a Yugoslavia goal in the 73rd minute, and ended in a 1974 World Cup tie against Haiti when he conceded a goal in the 46th minute.
In between these two games, Zoff kept a clean sheet in 12 consecutive internationals.
Update . . . Alan Rough wasn’t in goal for that match against Portugal, St Mirren’s Billy Thomson being between the sticks in a 2-1 away defeat.
Rough’s next international for Scotland was a 3-0 away defeat to Spain on February 24, 1982.
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