Season › 2023-24 › News Pickford picks up another clean sheet in narrow England win Lyndon Lloyd 18/06/2024 21comments | Jump to last Jordan Pickford was back between the sticks in a major international tournament for England and earned a record-equalling clean sheet in the process and Jude Bellingham's goal was enough to edge Serbia. The imperious Real Madrid midfielder powered home a brave 13th-minute header to score the only goal of a tight contest that rather stagnated from England's perspective after half-time and the Serbs made a concerted effort to ruin another victorious start for Gareth Southgate. The Three Lions' head coach had Pickford to thank, though, for a fine save eight minutes from the end when he palmed Dusan Vlahovic’s wicked strike over the crossbar. That preserved a 10th clean sheet in major competition for Pickford that puts him level with Peter Shilton. Article continues below video content Meanwhile, Vitalii Mykolenko was named among the substitutes despite aggravating his ankle injury as Ukraine were beaten heavily by Romania. And in their opening group game, Amadou Onana and Belgium were defeated by Slovakia, although had Romelu Lukaku left the Everton midfielder's towering header off a set-piece, it might have dropped in and levelled the scores in the first half. Instead, the former Blues striker touched the ball over the line and the goal was ruled out for offside, as was another Lukaku strike late on that was very harshly chalked off for handball in the build-up. Reader Comments (21) Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer () Mike Hayes 1 Posted 18/06/2024 at 08:25:56 He’s proving to be one of the best we’ve had between the sticks almost on par with Big Nev 💙 Neil Lawson 2 Posted 18/06/2024 at 08:28:10 Jordan"s greatest ability is to constantly defeat his critics. Joe McMahon 3 Posted 18/06/2024 at 08:32:59 More importantly can someone please tell him to change that kit. It's awfull. Danny O’Neill 4 Posted 18/06/2024 at 08:41:04 Best shot stopper in the league.He has matured a lot, but could still command his box better.But he has literally saved us these past seasons with breathtaking saves that had me not breathing for at least a minute. Rob Halligan 5 Posted 18/06/2024 at 08:44:38 Just reading that Scotlands Ryan Porteous has had his ban extended to two matches, following his sending off for his horrendous challenge on Gundogan in the opening game.That’s the end of his tournament then! 😁😁 Andrew Clare 6 Posted 18/06/2024 at 08:59:00 Pickford is an excellent goalkeeper.He has kept us in the game and saved us many times from defeat.Definitely England's best. Liam Mogan 7 Posted 18/06/2024 at 09:50:30 Can't read everything Brian. Reading toffeweb comments about boys pen bill, the semantics of sainthood and USA tv commentators is a full time jobAnd I reserve my right to be a negative prick! Billy Bradshaw 9 Posted 18/06/2024 at 14:27:39 Brian Williams 10 Posted 18/06/2024 at 14:32:16 Peter Jones 11 Posted 18/06/2024 at 16:57:12 We’re blessed to have Jordan Pickford. 🙌 Roger Helm 12 Posted 19/06/2024 at 13:55:02 Where does Jordan stand in the pantheon of Goodison glovesmen? I wasn’t able to watch Big Nev every week and never saw any before him but Jordan is surely at least one of the best. Paul Hewitt 13 Posted 19/06/2024 at 14:20:46 Roger, I'd put only Southall,Martyn and Howard as the only ones above him. And I've been watching over 45 years. Ryan Holroyd 14 Posted 19/06/2024 at 14:59:20 Pickford is better than Tim Howard Mike Gaynes 15 Posted 19/06/2024 at 15:49:15 I'd put Picks above both Martyn and Howard, and nobody was a bigger Howard fan than me. Picks for me has become perhaps the world's best shotstopper and has improved significantly in all the areas where he was weak before -- distribution, positioning, and most of all commanding his area. Danny O’Neill 16 Posted 19/06/2024 at 16:38:05 Martyn was great for us in the twilight of his career. We missed a trick there when he went to Leeds. It seemed he was ours for the taking.But for my generation Neville Southall is head and shoulders above. any Everton goalkeepers. The best in Europe in his peak.Being unbiased, in my youth, England had some great keepers. Shilton stood out but I thought Ray Clemence was underrated by England. Danny O’Neill 17 Posted 19/06/2024 at 16:54:20 Also further afield outside of Everton, I have to mention Schmecal senior and Manuel Neuer. I can't remember the name of the great Italian keeper, which escapes me. Roger Helm 18 Posted 19/06/2024 at 19:50:51 What about Gordon West? ( before my time) Dennis Stevens 19 Posted 19/06/2024 at 19:54:58 Anybody able to compare with Ted Sagar, or does no-one remember that far back? Colin Glassar 20 Posted 19/06/2024 at 19:59:50 Gordon West was an excellent goalie, Roger. A bit erratic at times and, I think, had some mental health issues. Clive Rogers 21 Posted 19/06/2024 at 20:05:29 Danny, 17, Buffon I think. Danny O’Neill 22 Posted 19/06/2024 at 20:08:06 Thats it Clive. 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