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Lambert Praise for New Defence Pair as Blues Close in on Clean Sheet Record - Ipswich Town News

Blues boss Paul Lambert has had praise for new signings James Wilson and Kane Vincent-Young, part of a Town backline which recorded their fourth successive clean sheet away against the MK Dons on Tuesday, just one off equalling a club record.

Town most recently achieved a run of five league games without conceding a goal in March and April 2013 and also at a similar stage of the 1996/97 campaign.

Once-capped Wales international Wilson was signed after leaving Lincoln in the summer following a successful trial and Tuesday’s game was his sixth start (his fourth in the league) for the club with many of those at Stadium MK citing him as their man of the match.

"James has done really well,” manager Paul Lambert said. "I think Tuesday night was his best game. I thought he was excellent.

"Toto [Nsiala] coming back is going to be a big bonus for us as well and it’s good, I’d rather the competition than not have it.”

Regarding Kane-Vincent, signed from Colchester for £500,000 last month, he added: "He’s been brilliant, he really has. I’m really happy with him, and it’s there for everybody to see, he’s given us another dimension to the game and performing at a really high level.”

The former Spurs youngster has shown a great willingness to get forward, which Lambert says has been a huge positive for the team.

"I think it’s a massive weapon for us, his speed and the way he gets up and down that side,” he said.

"I’m really happy for him, and he’s a really nice lad as well, which I think is important, I always think that’s important. I’m really happy with the way he’s performed.”

Lambert says recruiting players with the right character is crucial when building a squad: "It’s vital. It doesn’t matter how good their ability is if they’re not a good character then forget it.

"It’s not healthy for the team, the club or myself. Character for me probably goes over and above anything else.”

Reflecting on the run of clean sheets - Town last conceded in League One four minutes before half-time in the 2-1 victory over Wimbledon - Lambert added: "They’re really good. I thought the second half the other night was excellent. We were really robust and strong, everything you want in these types of games.

"I’ve been involved with them, so I know what they’re like, but being resolute as a backline [is vital], and not just the back lads but everybody connected with it, so I’m really happy with the game.”

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