Dorus De Vries is a man proud of his defensive record - and he aims to improve that record at Forest this afternoon

The Swansea City goalkeeper has been beaten just 22 times in the 33 league games played to date and since Nottingham Forest were the last team to defeat the Swans in the league the Dutchman has conceded just 4 goals in 12 Championship games with 8 clean sheets added to what looks set to be a record breaking tally.

19 clean sheets have been acheived so far this season and De vries would love to take that tally to 20 this afternoon and move the Swans to within 2 points of 3rd placed Forest and Dorus to within 2 clean sheets of Roger Freestone's 1999/2000 record.

Speaking to the Western Mail, Dorus said “We haven’t forgotten about that defeat at home

“They’re a strong side and they’ve got a good set-piece, but I thought we were a bit unlucky not to take some of our chances and score a couple of goals.

“They’ve got some class strikers and change a lot as well depending on whether they play away or home.

“That shows their quality and the depth of their squad and they’ve shown they can hurt teams.

“But, hopefully, we can settle that loss at our place. We’ve got a little bit of history because we came out of League One together and, when you look at the table, we’re big rivals.

“It’s in the back of our minds that we close up on them if we win up there.

“Records like that are a mark of recognition,” said de Vries.

“It’s not a target that is constantly on your mind, but as a player you always want a little bit of recognition.

“Beating Roger’s record is one of the aims for me now and hopefully my mark will stay there for a while.

“People still talk about Roger’s record and I think we’re going to meet up sometime soon.

“I look forward to it because I know he was a big favourite of the fans.

“I’ve heard from some of the boys who used to play with him that he’s a great guy.

“I’ve been told that he hopes we win every game for the rest of the season... as long as we concede a goal in every game!

“Keeping clean sheets is not down to only the goalkeeper, it’s the team,” he said.

“If the teams needs me I’m there, if it’s the other way round they’re there.

“The back four has been changing throughout the season because of injuries and suspensions, but the players who have come in have done really well.

“'It can often be difficult for a goalkeeper when personnel is changing in front of you.

“But there’s a great feel about our defence because a lot of us have been here for a few years now.

“The longer you play with your back four it helps a goalkeeper, but even young Jazz Richards has settled in straightaway when he’s been asked to play.

“You see the understanding on the training pitch and that transfers to games.

“Everybody knows their job and feels really comfortable.

“The gaffer’s done a lot of work on the training field on our defence and you go into games with a real good feeling that you’re not going to concede goals."

Photo: Action Images

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