Exeter City are quietly going under the radar in League One, sitting in a commendable fourth place, thanks in large part to their defensive record, with a staggering seven clean sheets from the first 10.
Who is Joe Whitworth?
Crystal Palace loanee shot stopper Joe Whitworth has started excellently at the Grecians, and following Thursday night victory over Shrewsbury, the 20-year-old secured his fifth consecutive clean sheet.
Prior to this season, Whitworth was somewhat of an unknown entity to EFL fans, but for those who keep an eye on up-and-coming Premier League youngsters, more England youth players would have perhaps expected Whitworth to excel, especially at a side that prioritises youth at senior level.
Phenomenal defensive record
One goal conceded in the last seven matches, six against in the league so far. In the words of the great Sir Alex Ferguson, “Attack wins you games, defence wins you titles”. Perhaps it’s a ‘little’ early time to get into the conversation of titles and promotion, but it can’t be ignored just how good City looks at the back.
A joint league-best of 4.20 saves per match and a league-best save percentage of 87.5%, highlight Whitworth’s responsibilities and business in goal, this certainly isn’t the case of a great defence, with a goalkeeper who doesn’t have much to do, it’s completely the opposite, making it that more impressive.
Whitworth’s remarkable achievements: a league-best average of 4.20 saves per match and a save percentage of 87.5%, underscore his vital role in goal. This isn’t simply a case of a strong defence allowing little to no action; rather, it highlights the sheer volume of work he faces, making his accomplishments all the more impressive.
Perhaps the most striking statistic is ‘goals prevented’. This metric gauges the number of goals a goalkeeper has saved compared to the expected goals conceded based on the shots faced. Remarkably, the 20-year-old has an impressive score of 6.5, more than double that of the second-place contender, Josh Griffiths of Bristol Rovers.
England’s future number one?
Many goalkeepers who later represented England have also played in the EFL pyramid. Notable examples include Nick Pope, who made 22 appearances for Charlton Athletic; Joe Hart, who had several loan spells, including at Birmingham and Tranmere, before joining Manchester City from Shrewsbury Town; and Dean Henderson, who similarly gained experience through various loan spells in the EFL.
Whitworth’s loan to earn vital first-team experience is crucial for his development. Time and again, we see that loaning an exciting prospect to the right club or manager can be far more beneficial than continuing to play academy football.
If Whitworth goes on to represent England, Exeter City will have played a significant role in his development. The Devon club offers an excellent infrastructure and a supportive culture that allows young players to thrive and pursue bigger opportunities.
It will be intriguing to see what lies ahead for Whitworth, especially with Dean Henderson, Matt Turner, and Remi Mathews at Crystal Palace. Will he be loaned out to a Championship club next, or will he be expected to compete for the number one spot? Only time will tell.