QPR goalkeeper Asmir Begovic has come under fire from some supporters this season, especially from set plays, and that was the case again as Middlesbrough slotted two goals past the veteran at Loftus Road on Saturday afternoon.
Rs head coach Marti Cifuentes defended the former Chelsea and Everton man after the match. He said: "I’m not here just to judge individually my players. I trust them. In this case, if you ask me about Asmir, his career speaks for itself and the quality he has.
“If you ask me if I want Asmir in a team that is fighting to avoid relegation I will 100% say that I always want him in my team. The experience and leadership he has says everything.”
A side's defence is, of course, much more than its goalkeeper but LondonWorld has looked at Begovic's clean sheet percentage this season compared with shot-stoppers from recent years. Here's how each goalkeeper who played more than five times in the league during every season since the 2015/16 campaign compared.
1. Joe Lumley, 19/20 - 11.1%
27 appearances, three clean sheets.
2. Alex Smithies, 16/17 - 15.2%
46 appearances, seven clean sheets.
3. Liam Kelly, 19/20 - 15.8%
19 appearances, three clean sheets. Photo: Getty Images
4. Alex Smithies, 17/18 - 16.3%
43 appearances, seven clean sheets. Photo: Getty Images