ELLIOTT Ward believes Nottingham Forest's new-found defensive resilience can be the fulcrum for their continued climb up the Championship table.
The Reds have conceded only four goals in seven games under Billy Davies and have kept three clean sheets in that time.
And defender Ward says the back four – and keeper Karl Darlow – are growing in confidence all the time.
Darlow, 22, has quickly established himself in the first team, after replacing Lee Camp as the Reds' first-choice stopper.
"It is nice to keep clean sheets, it looks good for the team and for the back four. It is also good for Karl, because it breeds confidence for everyone in the team when you keep a clean sheet," he said.
"Karl is growing in confidence in every game, he has kept three clean sheets and hopefully we can help him to keep a few more.
"He has had a few quiet games but, when he is needed, when he has been called upon, he has done a good job. He has made some good saves.
"It works both ways, he needs to have confidence and we need to have confidence in him. We need to win headers and he comes for crosses. He has been brilliant at that, particularly at Sheffield Wednesday."
Ward believes the entire Reds team deserve credit for their solidity at the back.
"We are limiting teams to a few chances in matches, but that is because, as a team, we are working so hard. We are pressing from the front, we work hard to close down. The opposition just are not getting as many chances, because we do not give them the room or time on the ball.
"We are doing okay at the minute, we are keeping things tight. But we need to carry on, we need to keep working hard."
York City have had a bid for Forest's Jonathan Greening turned down. The 34-year-old midfielder is a former player at Bootham Crescent and left the club for Manchester United in a £500,000 deal in 1998.
