TONY Mowbray has set Albion's last two defensive displays against Sheffield United and Coventry as the benchmark for the rest of the season.

And he has hailed the part played by the recalled Leon Barnett in recording back-to-back clean-sheets in the league draw with the Blades and the 5-0 FA Cup win over the Sky Blues.

The Hawthorns boss has also been impressed by the form of Martin Albrechtsen at the heart of the defence as the Baggies prepare to host Hull on Saturday (ko 3pm).

"There were never any fears or doubts about Leon," said Mowbray.

"At times he gets concerned when he's not in the team but as a young central defender he has to accept that there is competition for his position.

"I'd like to think that the performances we've seen in the last two games are a result of being out of the team for a while.

"Then the opportunity comes along and the concentration levels and desire levels are at a maximum.

"We've seen that in the last two games, not only from Leon but Martin too.

"Defensively we've stood up to the test in the last two matches and that's the standard we need to keep and maintain."

Barnett's longest run in the side since his £2.5million summer move from Luton is six games.

But Mowbray values the 22-year-old stopper's aerial ability and believes his all-round game is improving in only his third season in the Championship.

"That's one of the major strengths of Leon's game," the Albion chief added.

"One of the reasons he was brought here was to deal with balls in the air and there are other criteria that he needs to work on and improve.

"But I can see improvements in his all-round game.

"The big thing for central defenders is consistency.

"It's something that you strive for but it's very hard, particularly in this division.

"You play against lots of different types of teams and some weeks it's all about concentration, while other weeks it is about aggression.

"Some weeks you have to use your pace and your brain and Leon is learning his trade as he goes along with us.

"He made a big reputation for himself at Luton but I think the demands here are different to the demands at Luton.

"He is adapting to that and doing it very well - he's progressing very quickly."

If the Baggies can shut out the Tigers at the weekend, it will be the first time in five months they have kept three successive clean-sheets.

Albion are renowned for being the 66-goal top scorers in all four English divisions this term.

But, as an ex-centre-half, Mowbray is more than aware what a boost a hat-trick of clean-sheets would also be to his fourth-placed troops.

"You have to have a determination to try to keep clean-sheets," he insisted.

"When I played we used to count them up and we clocked up into the mid-20s one season at Middlesbrough.

"They are important and it is a good motivation and target for defenders and goalkeepers to see how many clean-sheets they can keep in a season.

"You have to keep grinding them out and getting one clean-sheet after another, which is why you should get annoyed even if you are 4-0 or 5-0 up and you concede a late goal.

"They should be very frustrated with that because they should take a pride in clean-sheets.

"I haven't set them a target but I'm pretty sure Dean Kiely has his own target for clean-sheets and a determination to keep them.

"That shouldn't become overbearing though because if you concede an early goal you have to concentrate on the rest of the game.

"But it's important that we have managed to get clean-sheets in the last couple of games and we've got to take that into the next few games.

"That will give us a platform to win football matches." 

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