JUSTIN Thompson revealed that a dressing room motto is spurring on Worcester City's fantastic run of clean sheets.

City hit the road to Hucknall Town tomorrow with ambitions of producing a fifth successive shut-out.

Underlining the strength and understanding of City's inspired back-line, Thompson and his fellow defenders have only conceded a goal four times in 11 previous Nationwide North games.

"Those figures speak for themselves," admits the big Canadian centre-half. "That's what we want to keep doing.

"Every game-day, before we walk out to the pitch, there's a note on the board saying 'Clean sheets win games'. I think the boys take that to heart.

"We don't want to give up goals, that's our mentality. We limit the chances and that culminates into limiting goals.

"We've limited teams over the last few weeks, where we've been difficult to break down. Our defensive shape has been very good and I credit that to the gaffer and Jock (Andy Morrison).

"They are great, making sure of our positions and giving us good advice on what we must do.

"It's not any one, two or three players back there. It's the whole team playing good defence."

Thompson also highlights the increasing influence of goalkeeper Danny McDonnell, whose all-round game has improved this season.

He added: "Danny is huge -- a top goalkeeper in this league. When he's called upon to make a big save, he generally gets there.

"And in my own personal view, in the last two months or maybe longer, Danny's given us that extra bit of support by coming out, claiming balls and being nice and clear.

"Earlier on in the season, there was a few goals where nobody was quite sure who was supposed to be picking who up. I think he's been great in helping out."

For all their clean sheets, however, City have picked up just two points over the last week from two 0-0 stalemates with Vauxhall Motors and Nuneaton Borough. Holding title contenders Borough at Manor Park was an excellent result, although drawing against the Motormen threw a small spanner in their play-off hopes.

Thompson was hugely satisfied with Tuesday's point, admitting it kept Worcester's momentum intact.

He added: "It was a tough, physical battle. But we believe we can play a team like Nuneaton and we proved a point.

"We felt comfortable and kept our shape. We squeezed the game from the back and that gave our midfielders a little less work to do. We are taking heart, gaining confidence and gaining momentum as we go.

"We are on a good run. We struggled in the first couple of months of the season, but once we found our feet we began outplaying teams and it's been that way for most of the year.

"It's a big game at Hucknall. We need three points and we want to keep climbing the table."

Striker Mark Danks should re-claim a starting role following his one-game ban at Nuneaton.

Leon Kelly is likely to step down to the subs bench, but Adam Webster is struggling with an ankle niggle.

Dennis Pearce may win his hamstring fitness battle, although Shabir Khan could be preferred at left-back.

Les Hines (calf) is hopeful of returning, while midfielder Jai Stanley is pushing hard for a first-team place.