It was a big result for the lads last Saturday at Sheffield United and a good week.

We would have taken seven points from the last three league matches and it does put a little gap in there at the top to say we’re not just interested in automatic promotion – we’re here to win the league. It’s a statement of intent.

We all knew it was going to be a difficult at Bramall Lane and that the match wasn’t going to be won in the first minute.

United put us under pressure inside the first 10 minutes but we got into the game and gradually put them on the back foot. As the game went on, I thought we were on top and deserved the three points.

I thought we looked solid and, deep down, us defenders know at the back that if we can keep a clean sheet, there are players going forward who are going to score the goals.

We got a clean sheet and not many teams will do that at Bramall Lane. It was our first league shut-out since the Exeter City match in mid-September, though, so there are always areas for improvement.

I nearly got my first goal for the club in the first half but I needed the ball to bounce in front of me a little bit quicker.

At half-time, Paul Hayes and I agreed I should have flicked it on to him but I saw the goal in front of me. I thought I was going to score and was starting to think about celebrating but it didn’t turn out that way.

Behind the defence, goalkeeper Ben Hamer has grown into the team. As the season goes on and we all play together at the back, he’s only going to get better and better.

You have to remember that when he came in, Rob Elliot had done so well early in the summer but Ben has stepped up and is trying to cement that No.1 spot for himself.

He made a great save in the second half from Richard Cresswell and I had to thank him for that because it was a great ball in and Cresswell had ghosted in off my shoulder.

I do think it’s imperative for us to keep it tight at the back and although Chris Solly and I were both disappointed to give away penalties against MK Dons and Chesterfield, that happens in football and we have moved on from it.

We find ourselves in a great position but it’s only just started and there’s a long way to go. We’re all aware of that and it starts against Tranmere on Saturday.