Ipswich will be looking to rewrite the record books with a sixth successive clean sheet when promotion-chasing Hull City visit Portman Road this afternoon.

Last week’s last-gasp 1-0 win at Derby matched Town’s previous best, the five-in-a-row achievement at a similar stage of the 1996/97 season when George Burley was the man in charge.

Burley’s team, with Richard Wright in goal, saw off Oldham, Swindon, Norwich, Manchester City and Portsmouth, scoring 12 goals and conceding none, to eventually finish fourth and then suffer defeat on away goals to Sheffield United in the play-off semis.

Now Mick McCarthy’s men, who have kept nine clean sheets in their last 12 outings and conceded just one goal in their last eight outings, are just 90 minutes away from creating history if they can stop the second-placed Tigers finding a way past Scott Loach.

Defender Luke Chambers, who has played a starring role in the run that has lifted Town six points clear of the Championship drop zone, would love to see it happen.

Chambers said: “When I was at Nottingham Forest I think I’m right in saying we kept something like 25 clean sheets one season and that was a record.

“We will do whatever we can to make it six in a row. It’s always nice to break records and it’s a sure sign that you are doing something right.

“But we won’t be going out any differently to how we have in other games. If we create the record, great, but the main thing, as always, is to try to win the game.”

Chambers has been pleasantly surprised by the extent to which Town have tightened up at the back, especially when he recalls the early-season form under ex-boss Paul Jewell that included a 6-0 hammering at Blackpool.

That came in only the third league game of the season and just four days after the 1-0 win at Watford that marked the only game of Jewell’s 14 in charge prior to his departure in which Town kept a clean sheet.

Chambers added: “Even when the gaffer came in we suffered two very damaging results, conceding 11 in successive away games at Crystal Palace and Leicester. They were awful, horrendous results but now I believe there are only nine clubs who have shipped fewer goals than we have.

“We’re difficult to beat. If we lose possession we regain our shape very quickly and work to get the ball back as quickly as possible.

“We don’t get frustrated if our opponents have a lot of possession because that’s part and parcel of the game. We’ve been consistent enough to get enough results to put ourselves in a great position going into our last five games.”

Photo: Action Images

bontcho added 08:29 - Apr 13 Which Norwich victory was that? It wasn't the 5-0 was it? Think that was the following year.
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PhilTWTD added 10:05 - Apr 13 The Taricco-Mason 2-0.
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wkj added 10:40 - Apr 13 Anyone else get the feeling Chambo is loving his football and his club right now? he's been full of excitement in the press this week. good to see
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TimmyH added 11:01 - Apr 13 at long last some consistency and it's in the defensive area - hopefully this bodes well for next season. Incredible turn around since the beginning of last season.
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