STANLEY defender Callum Johnson believes the Reds can head into games with a new defensive confidence having kept their first clean sheets of the season in the last week.

John Coleman’s side went the first nine League One games of this campaign without a shutout but back-to-back 1-0 wins over Walsall and Doncaster Rovers have ended that statistic.

They have also yielded six points which have propelled Stanley into the play-off places ahead of the weekend trip to Shrewsbury Town.

And Johnson, who has been a virtual ever-present since joining the club just over a year ago, is hoping for many more clean sheets between now and the end of the campaign.

“It was playing on our minds a little bit that we hadn’t had that first clean sheet,” he said.

“It is almost like the first goal as a striker. You just want that first one and then we got another one and hopefully more will follow.

“There is definitely things we can still improve on but the wins are the most important things. It was good to get the win on Tuesday. Beating a side like Doncaster has given us confidence, they were a really good side and I think they were one of the best sides we have played so far.

“It is three wins in a row now and a few clean sheets as well.”

Johnson and Co will travel to Shropshire looking to make it four wins on the spin but the 21-year-old knows the hosts will prove a tricky test.

“They have got some good players, we have been watching them this week and we are expecting a tough game,” Johnson added.

“It is early days in the season. They had a really good season last season and I am sure it will be a hard game.

“We have to keep doing what we have been doing. We want to keep improving.”

Stanley have surprised many onlookers with their start to life in League One but no-one inside the Wham Stadium is shocked.

And Johnson believes the team spirit and winning feeling on the back of 29 victories and the League Two title last season, has been key.

“We still have the spirit that we had last season, that is a main thing here that keeps everyone together,” he added.

“We all work hard and hopefully that will get us more wins.”