Crystal Palace may have put one foot into the Conference League semi-finals with a comprehensive 3-0 thrashing of Fiorentina at Selhurst Park but for Oliver Glasner there was something else he was particularly pleased about - the defence.
Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner hailed his defence after they kept their fifth consecutive clean sheet at Selhurst Park.
The Eagles eased to a resounding 3-0 win over Fiorentina in the Conference League quarter-finals to all but book their spot in the final four.
Jean-Philippe Mateta, Tyrick Mitchell and Ismaila Sarr may have taken the plaudits with the goals on the night for Palace, but it was another night in which the defence and captain Dean Henderson in goal were able to hold their heads high.
Palace also kept clean sheets against Leeds in their last Premier League match on March 15 and in their two previous Conference League ties, against AEK Larnaca and Zrinjski, as well as defeating Wolves 1-0 in February.
It means the last time Palace conceded a goal at home came in the shock 3-2 home defeat to Burnley on February 11, meaning it is exactly two months since anyone breached the Palace net.
Glasner was understanably delighted with this record and praised the whole team for their efforts.
“I'm very pleased with a clean sheet, like always.
“A clean sheet always starts with the attackers, because they are responsible either to put pressure on the ball or to bring the game into areas we are defining before.
“That's their responsibility, to close passing lines, and then we give the opposition some space where we want to give them it, and then we start with our pressing, and this always starts up front.”
The Austrian was particularly pleased with the ability to keep clean sheets despite so much change coming, with captain Marc Guehi leaving the club in January to join Manchester City.
That has seen 19-year-old Jaydee Canvot step up and the France U21 defender, after an initial struggle, has taken to Premier League life like a duck to water.
Palace were also able to keep clean sheets when Maxence Lacroix, their new defensive leader, was out with injury, as Chadi Riad stepped up and while Henderson was ill.
It is something Glasner has immense pride about.
“Then at the end, to be honest, it's just amazing how our defence is doing after we sold Marc [Guéhi] in January, and how quick Jaydee Canvot now came in,” he added.
“Also when Maxence Lacroix was injured, we played with Chadi Riad there, and when Dean Henderson was ill, it was Walter Benítez, and he could keep a clean sheet.
“It's great to see that everybody knows how we want to defend, and everybody fulfils his part for the team.”