John O'Shea wants Manchester United to maintain their current mean streak at Derby County in the Carling Cup.

Sir Alex Ferguson's men have not conceded a goal since being crowned world champions in Japan last month, a spell that has seen them beat Middlesbrough at Old Trafford as well as both Stoke City and Southampton - in the FA Cup - away from home.

O'Shea is now targeting a fourth consecutive clean sheet, as United aim to establish a first leg Carling Cup semi-final advantage against Derby on Wednesday night.

"Keeping a clean sheet is always positive. That's the base for winning leagues and doing so well in cup competitions," O'Shea told MUTV.

"If the defence keeps clean sheets, then nine times out of ten it will result in a win for us because of the attacking talent we have."

A comfortable 3-0 win in the FA Cup on Sunday was United's highest domestic tally since scoring five past Blackburn in the last round of the Carling Cup on December 3.