It is certainly no coincidence that West Ham United's improved defensive strength this season has coincided with Matthew Upson's constant presence in the West Ham United team.
The central defender's composed performances at the heart of the back-four have been one of the many highlights of a campaign that sees the club go into their final ten Premier League matches with a very real chance of qualifying for next season's UEFA Europa League.
Upson has shrugged off his previous injury problems to be one of just two ever-presents in Gianfranco Zola's starting eleven this season alongside goalkeeper Robert Green. It says much for the 29-year-old's form that the only game in which he was withdrawn - against Everton in November - saw the Hammers concede three late goals.
Upson, who has also become a regular fixture in Fabio Capello's England squad and scored his first international goal in Germany in November, was at his imperious best during Wednesday's 1-0 victory at Wigan Athletic as the Hammers had to play almost an hour with ten men after Carlton Cole was sent off.
"We played exceptionally well, looked very dangerous, played around them quite easily and created good chances. We knew what Wigan were going to throw at us - a lot of diagonal balls and balls into the box. It was a shame that Carlton was sent-off really because the game was quite entertaining until then, but then we had to sit back and could not get out. It was a good win for us."
Success at the JJB Stadium ensured the Hammers go into their free weekend four points clear of eighth-placed Manchester City, and Upson believes Zola's men have a seventh-place finish - and possible European qualification for next season - well within their capabilities.
"It is massively in our mind. It is a target of ours. We sat down and have talked about it. We are heading towards them and when you set targets you want to achieve them and that is what we want to do at this club."
The squad will not return to action until West Bromwich Albion visit the Boleyn Ground on Monday 16 March, but Upson insists he and his team-mates will not lose focus. In fact, he believes the break from competitive fixtures could not have come at a better time.
"We are going into a break now. We are going to recharge the batteries. We have a lot of players who have played nearly every match this season, so it is a good rest and we have a couple of fixtures coming up where we can pick up points."