Ezri Konsa is keen to keep the clean sheets coming when Aston Villa face Newcastle United on Saturday.
Defensive solidity has laid the foundations for a seven-game unbeaten run in the Premier League, with only two goals conceded in that span.
Five clean sheets have been racked up along the way, and Konsa knows the importance of being hard to break down against a side who are flying high in third.
“It’s going to be a really tough game. We’re both on a really good run of form,” he said.
“They’re coming to Villa Park and we’re unbeaten there in our last three games with three clean sheets.
“It’s a challenge that we’re all looking forward to and come Saturday, hopefully we can get another three points and a clean sheet as well.”
He added: “It’s really important to keep our fans behind us. When Villa Park is rocking it really helps us, just like Saturday.
“It was a tough game and there wasn’t much in it because of the way Nottingham Forest played but we had to stay patient and keep the fans behind us.
“That’s what they did and they really helped us to get the three points on the weekend.”
Villa’s style of play under Unai Emery has seen his centre-backs play an increasingly important role in starting attacks when in possession.
After an initial adaptation period, Konsa believes he has gone from strength to strength alongside Tyrone Mings in the heart of defence.
He said: “I’m adapting really well to it. He wants us centre-backs to have more of the ball to start the build-up play, it’s a style that he’s wanted to do from the start.
“It’s taken a while to get used to but I think you can see over the last seven games how important it is to have his centre-halves on the ball and dictating play.
“Me and Ty had a strong partnership in our first season back in the Prem and it’s something that we’ve always wanted to get back to.”
