Sjearthquakes.com caught up with David Bingham ahead of the clash with the Portland Timbers on Sunday. Here, he speaks about strikers taking the glory, competition between the sticks and facing a new friend.

sjearthquakes.com: Colorado made you work for the clean sheet?

David Bingham: “It was a tough game, but we kind of expected it. Whenever you play Colorado you’re in a dogfight. We were good defensively and you have to face pressure throughout the year. We’re pretty good at dealing with it.”

SJEQ: Is it annoying that goalkeepers don’t get as much credit when they keep a clean sheet as the strikers do when they score?

DB: “Yes. It doesn’t create as much praise. However, I always think that if they are talking about goalkeepers it tends to be because you have done something wrong. It’s better not to be mentioned. I think it’s the icing on the cake with the most important thing being winning the games. When you win, everyone gets a little accolade.”

SJEQ: The arrival of first-round pick Andrew Tarbell in the draft appears to have left the Quakes well stocked at goalkeeper. Is that a good thing?

DB: “It’s great to have competition - it doesn’t matter what position - it helps. For Andrew it’s been a big change of pace but he’s doing well. Having both me and Bryan (Meredith) coming through the ranks in the US, it’s good for him. We're not coming over like we're big foreign internationals.”

SJEQ: Portland on Sunday. Does it give you extra motivation given that they are the champions?

DB: “It's just another game. Once you say play harder against certain teams you leave yourself open and people can ask why you didn’t last time.”

SJEQ: Avaya seems to be becoming a fortress, is that something you aim for?

DB: “We want to get to the stage where teams come here thinking they are not going to score, let alone win. To do that over the season would be ideal. That’s probably not going to happen but it’s what we’re shooting for.”

SJEQ: Portland will have midfielder Darlington Nagbe in their ranks. You guys played together with the USNMT earlier this year – how was that?

DB: “It was great – he’s a cool guy and I actually lockered next to him.”

SJEQ: Has there been any pre-game banter flying around between the pair of you?

DB: “We keep it nice. He’s a great player and we’ll do well to stop him scoring.”