Osano wants bonus to keep clean sheet
Keeping a clean sheet is the top priority for Rushden & Diamonds tonight.
Smashing six goals past Barrow to seal an outstanding performance on Saturday means they head to Kent full of confidence.
On the attack they appear to have few problems ahead of the trip to Ebbsfleet United.
At the other end of the pitch, though, it's a different story.
Diamonds have kept just one clean sheet in eight Blue Square Premier games.
That came in the opening midweek game at York City when Justin Edinburgh's side also failed to score.
Simon Downer's suspension forced a defensive change at KitKat Crescent and now his broken finger has again led to Curtis Osano switching into the centre alongside skipper Jamie Stuart.
The Kenyan is typically laidback when asked where he would prefer to play.
Osano said: "I don't mind at all.
"If the gaffer needs me in the middle then I will try to do a job. I will always do the best I can for the team.
"The main difference at centre-half is that it's about defending and nothing else.
"Firstly you clear the lines and if something comes up at a set-piece you might have a chance to do something.
"At right-back I can really get forward. But I do enjoy defending in a weird way.
"We talked before the game at Barrow about doing a job and keeping a clean sheet to give the team as much chance as we could of winning. But we seem to be leaking goals.
"At half-time on Saturday we spoke again about how we wanted a clean sheet.
"Concentration is the main issue to stop letting goals in.
"Obviously it helps me to play alongside Jamie because in every game he puts in 100 per cent.
"He is always talking to the younger players and he tells me what to do so that makes the job easier."
Having not scored in the first two games, Diamonds are now firing up front and the weekend display certainly impressed Osano.
He added: "The strikers are on top form and Saturday was the best I've seen them.
"Everything clicked and we saw Craig Farrell is a quality player while Cliff Akurang has the power and strength.
"After that win we've got a lot of confidence. Keeping a clean sheet would be a bonus.
"Every away game in this league is tough and we can't under-estimate anyone.
"If you do that it backfires really badly so you have to be prepared to grind out the right result.
"There are no excuses. If we play our game we can get all three points."
Osano was also pleased to see Paul Terry's influence on his Diamonds
debut.
He said: "I had never seen him play before so I didn't know what to expect.
"He was calm. He has been there and done it all which makes our job easier."
So how about Osano being on the scoresheet himself?
He revealed: "There's a bit of competition between myself and Kurt Robinson over who is going to score. We've got the celebrations ready!"
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Kettering
Sunday 27 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 25 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 12 C to 26 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: North east
