Tuesday night's stalemate against Chesterfield moved United up to ninth spot, but when it comes to the clean sheet league the boys at the back have few peers.

The United rearguard never looked under any serious pressure as they clocked up their 13th shut-out of the season, a stat bettered by only four teams in the division, and after the match defender Dave Raven explained the importance of staying focused for the full 90 minutes: "It was important that even though the match might not have been going as we'd have liked it to we didn't throw it away. We didn't make any silly mistakes, kept it tight and made sure we got the clean sheet."

"First and foremost it's important that we get the point and a clean sheet, then anything after that is a bonus," he explained. "I thought they came here and ground it out really. They stopped us playing and even though we did try to play and take the game to them it just turned in to one of those nights. The one-twos weren't coming off - the final ball wasn't coming off, but it was important that we stuck at it and got the point. It was well deserved and it could have been three - we nearly got that bonus at the end. I didn't have a good view of the goal, but I spoke to Danny Livesey and he said it was on side, so we'll have a good look at the replay."

One of the keys to the lads defensive success has been an excellent team spirit and Dave told us: "We all talk to each other and we're all good mates off the field as well which helps the performances on the pitch. I think we've got a good understanding of how we all play, and when you add Westy to that I think we're doing pretty well."

Since signing from Liverpool in the summer the right back's season has been hampered by injury. However, recent weeks have seen United's number two get a good run of games and turn in some decent displays. Last Saturday's performance against Leyton Orient gained him inclusion in the League One team of the week, but he insists he won't be resting on any laurels: "I set myself standards that I expect to reach. Obviously, if people think I'm playing well, then that's nice and I'll take that, but I still feel there's more to come."