Bristol City boss Danny Wilson has said his team's recent run of results, which have earned him the Manager of the Month award for Division Two, can be attributed largely to the fact that they have stopped conceding goals.
The Robins recorded five straight league victories in October, taking them into second in the table, and let in just three goals during that period.
A comfortable home win over Chesterfield was followed by an excellent 4-1 victory at Danny's former club Barnsley, before City saw off Swindon, Peterborough and Huddersfield to move within a point of leaders Cardiff.
Speaking exclusively to leaguemanagers.com, a delighted Danny Wilson said: "I think if you get yourself a good foundation with the clean sheets and you build on that, it gives you a great chance.
"It's something that we've tried to work on all season. The goals against column wasn't quite good enough last season, and when games have been very tight we'd end up being done by the odd goal, but this year we seem a lot more resilient.
"In doing that we've given ourselves that platform to go forward. I always think with the players we've got in this side anyway we'll create chances but like I say we were giving away too many easy goals really and that's how it's tightened up. But the month's been excellent and we're just trying to continue it."
City's consistency has been the main feature of their season so far, certainly in the last month, but their manager highlighted the performances of some individuals in the side who he feels have really stood out.
"There's been quite a few, he said. "I think Scott Murray has started the season off like a house on fire, he's been absolutely unbelievable. He's very, very difficult to tie down from the opposition's point of view.
"What we have as well is we've added a little bit pace to the team as well, with Adam Brown, and couple with all that the old senior player there, Brian Tinnion, I think he's bobbing along very well. He's scored a couple of crucial goals for us, and I hope he can continue."
Asked what it means to him to receive accolade of the Nationwide Manager of the Month award for Division Two, Danny said: "It's like everything, you don't want to read too much into it in terms of the stage we're at in the season.
"But it is a privilege of course, and I think the support that Nationwide are giving us at this moment in time is much needed and very well appreciated."
He added: "I think when it comes round you've had a decent month I think it is a nice little pat on the back for everyone concerned at the individual club. I think you always want to share it with the rest of your staff who put the work in as well.
"The players are there to be seen but the work goes on in the background as well and people can go a bit unnoticed but I think, with Frank and Sean at the club at the moment it's terrific from their point of view."
With The Robins sandwiched between Cardiff and Wigan in the table – who are a point either side of them – the scramble for promotion in Division Two appears to be hotting-up already. Oldham, QPR, Crewe and Blackpool are also chasing the top spots, with Brentford, Luton and Chesterfield also hoping to put themselves in the frame.
Danny knows his team will have to continue in a similar vein if they are to maintain their position, and he believes the race for promotion will remain very close.
He said: "A lot of the games that I've seen this year, and games at other clubs as well, it's very, very tight – there's not a great deal in it.
"You don't want to get carried away at this stage of the season but I would think there'll be ten teams at least that'll be in that shake-up at the end, and all we can do is try and get enough points to be in that shake-up.
"Nobody will be pulling away to the extent that it'll be over by Christmas – it's going to be a long fight, and hopefully we'll be prepared for it by the time the end of the season comes."
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