Clean sheet will boost Crewe confidence - Booth

Crewe goalkeeper Tom Booth shouts at his defence during a gameShutterstock

Tom Booth has kept 10 clean sheets in 37 league games for Crewe

Dan WheelerBBC Sport and Graham McGarryBBC Radio Stoke

Crewe Alexandra goalkeeper Tom Booth says the club's first clean sheet in 13 League Two games will build confidence as they try to maintain their promotion push.

The 21-year-old was instrumental in the Alex securing a point in Saturday's match at Oldham, pulling off an excellent save late on in their goalless draw at Boundary Park.

The result extended Crewe's unbeaten run to three games and took them up to eighth place in the table, one point outside the top seven.

Booth told BBC Radio Stoke finally securing a clean sheet was "great" and added the squad would "thrive off them".

"If we score a goal we win the game if we keep a clean sheet. It builds confidence in the team."

Booth is another graduate of the Crewe academy to progress through to the first team and has established himself as boss Lee Bell's number one after being understudy to Aston Villa loanee Filip Marschall last season.

He said working with Crewe goalkeeper coach Fred Barber and current number two keeper Sam Waller has aided his progression this term.

"Sam and Fred have been such a good help - Sam's played well in the Vertu [Trophy] games keeping me on my toes and Fred's saying I can't relax," he added.

"I'm playing now and last year I wasn't so much. Getting that experience, knowing what type of situations happen in League Two - the shots, crosses, the physicality - I'm just getting on with it week to week."

Booth said he is working hard on improving his ball control as that is now a key part of a goalkeeper's skill-set.

"I'm working on my kicking - I've shelled a few out of play every now and then but you've got to build up play," he said.

"That's modern football, from the Premier League all the way down, people want goalkeepers to come out and play.

"It's a learning experience and it's what I've come through to do. I'm not going to be the polished diamond, I'm going to make mistakes.

"Hopefully fans will bear with me and I will become a good keeper."

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