By Andy Naylor and Mike Legg

Mathew Ryan knows exactly when Albion rediscovered their defensive mojo.

It was not against West Ham at the Amex, or at Newcastle, or at home to Wolves when he made three outstanding second half saves.

It was when he last conceded and the Seagulls were last beaten.

Ryan traces back the origins of a hat-trick of clean sheets to the defeat at Manchester City.

It felt like a routine victory for the champions at the Etihad at the end of September.

From an Albion perspective, Ryan believes it was a turning point.

Pep Guardiola's side had 80 per cent of the possession that day but needed counter-attacking goals by Raheem Sterling and Sergio Aguero (No.10 below) to break Chris Hughton's team down.

The Argus: In In their next home game City put five past Burnley. Prior to facing Albion they scored five at Cardiff and three at Oxford United, another three afterwards away to Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League.

The way Albion coped with the test at the Etihad laid the foundations for the hard-earned shut-outs against the Hammers, Newcastle and Wolves.

Ryan said: "We've done our fair share of suffering in recent games. Our defensive structure is paramount to our success.

"We know going into games we are going to have to defend really well to keep a clean sheet and the club prides itself on that since the gaffer has taken the helm. That was a big key to getting up to the Premier League.

"We were a little disappointed to not have a clean sheet after seven games but now we have had three on the bounce. I felt in that Manchester City game that we turned a corner.

"I know we conceded two goals but they were two on the counter-attack against a side like that who can punish you when our defensive block is not set.

"The two goals in that game came from those situation but I felt we defended really well and we had the block behind the ball.

"I feel like we have been growing since that game. And since that game, it's three clean sheets and three wins.

"When you don't concede a goal, you're halfway to winning a game. And it also helps when you have a marksman like Muzza (Glenn Murray), who uses his experience to be in the right place at the right time, which is what the great strikers do."

The Argus: It It is now five minutes short of five hours in playing time since Ryan (above) last picked the ball out of his own net when Aguero beat him at the Etihad.

That is not a personal best for the Australian No.1 but the level makes it more meaningful.

"When I was playing in Belgium I think I did five in a row," Ryan said. "It's always a nice feeling but in England it's another level again.

"It's the first time for all of us as a Premier League club.

"I don't know if it is for Muzza and some of the other Premier League boys but for us as a club, as Brighton players, it's three wins on the bounce, three clean sheets and a great feeling.

"We're in a good place. We have learnt from last season, we know what level we need to hold to be successful in games and we're in that little patch at the moment and we need to continue that.

"We enjoy this win and then we have another tough game at Everton."

Ryan, helped by the dominant partnership of Shane Duffy and Lewis Dunk (below centre) in front of him, attempts to create a new top flight club record at Goodison Park on Saturday.

The Argus: Graham Moseley kept three successive clean sheets in the old First Division in 1982 before, ironically, Everton ended the run.

Ryan, signed from Valencia last summer, said: "That was the adjustment I had to make when I first came to England.

"We play with our defensive line so deep, I quickly learned that I just sort of let them (Duffy and Dunk) deal with all the balls and bodies that come into the box for 99.9 per cent of the time and then I do my best to pick up the pieces or clear up after them.

"You have to make sure your decisions are right. If your decisions aren't right then you get punished more so than any level I've played at in the past.

"I try to make the best decisions I can to help them out but otherwise I let them do what they do. They are two rocks there, a dynamic duo who do a great job for us."

Ryan has also highlighted the contribution to his unbeatable form of Ben Roberts, who looks after Albion's first choice along with back-up options David Button and Jason Steele (below).

The Argus: "In terms of goalkeeper coaches he's right up there with the best I have worked with," Ryan said. "I am thoroughly enjoying his guidance and him helping me become the goalkeeper that I am today.

He is helping me continue to grow.

"I can see the amount of progress made with whatever goalkeepers have been there.

"You can see the progress that Jason Steele and David Button, who has worked with him before, are making and it's a great environment to be around."

Did you know?

Albion have only kept a hat-trick of clean sheets in the top flight on one other occasion.

That was in 1982, when they won 1-0 at home to West Ham, drew 0-0 at Arsenal and beat 1-0 Coventry away.

The sequence was ended by Everton, although Albion still won 3-1.

The West Ham and Arsenal results were divided by a 3-0 home defeat by Oxford United in the FA Cup.