Exeter City manager Gary Caldwell said he was impressed with his side’s new-look defence after their 2-0 victory over Shrewsbury Town on Saturday.
The Grecians recorded a third clean sheet in five games as they moved seven points clear of the League One relegation zone.
It was the second time that January central defensive signings Alex Hartridge, Angus MacDonald and Ed Turns had played together and a second clean sheet for the trio.
Exeter have been hampered by injuries to the likes of Johnly Yfeko and Pierce Sweeney, as well as the return of on-loan Tristan Crama to his parent club, Millwall.
“One defeat in their last five league games, the positivity is coming into the group, the togetherness is into the group,” said Caldwell, who took his side on a training camp to Spain late last month following their FA Cup exit to Premier League side Nottingham Forest.
“The trip away, I think we’ve seen the benefits of that, we’ve not been beaten since we came back,” he told BBC Radio Devon.
“There’s a real spirit amongst everyone and we have to continue that right until the end of the season.”
With Yfeko and Sweeney close to returns from hamstring and calf injuries respectively, it could give Caldwell a headache when he goes to select his preferred central defensive trio.
But he said it will be difficult to displace his current set of starters if they continue to perform as well as they have.
“The message to the whole team is that when you’ve got the shirt, play well, keep it and ensure a quality that keeps you in the team,” Caldwell said.
“Considering that’s only their second game together, that’s two clean sheets they’ve had.
“It’s not easy to build that understanding so quickly. We’ve had a lot of training time because Ed has been suspended, so although it’s only two games they’ve trained a lot together.”
He added: “Out in La Manga we did a lot of work on their movement, and how we shift and how we want to defend, and we’re seeing the benefits of that.
“But I think individually they are standing up to pressure. They are putting bodies on the line and that is the foundation of any good defender, so we’re delighted to see that.”
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