Clean sheet king Dimi Konstantopoulos believes a water-tight Boro defence can help him to a career best record - and a new deal.
The Greek shot-stopper can boast an incredible 12 shut-outs in 21 league games and 13 overall this season.
“That’s my best at this stage of the season in my career,” he said.
“I had a good spell at Hartlepool in 2006-7 when we got promoted and I finished the season with 23 but at this stage, it is my best.
“If we can keep performing like this it could be my best ever.”
The shot-stopper was quick to praise his team-mates for the blanks after his Man of the Match display against Huddersfield.
“The whole team are working very hard to protect the goal,” he explained. “We said from the start of the season we would be solid at the back, not give away chances or goals and We are doing that.”
The keeper believes the defensive record - Boro have leaked just 17 goals in 26 league games - is the platform for a promotion push.
“Clean sheets are very important,” he said. “If you don’t concede you can’t lose the game and that is a good place to start in a division as competitive as this.
“If you keep a clean sheet then you only need one goal to win.
“And if you can’t win, then at least you don’t lose and you keep picking up points and you can build on that.”
Boss Aitor Karanka has talked of a new deal for the keeper, out of contract in the summer - and Dimi said he would welcome it.
“When the club give me a shout then we’ll sit down and talk and see what happens,” he said.
“But I’m happy here, I’m enjoying my football and I’d be happy to stay.
“I said from day one, Boro is a very big club, everything is in place, the stadium, the fan base, the training facilities.”
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