Paddy McCarthy has no misconceptions about the importance of keeping a clean sheet in the Championship.

The Crystal Palace captain has helped the Eagles' defence to 11 shut-outs in the league this season, six of which have led to vital wins in the fight against relegation.

The latest came against Cardiff City on Tuesday night as McCarthy, Anthony Gardner, Nathaniel Clyne and Dean Moxey - playing their seventh consecutive game together as a back four - kept the Bluebirds' star-studded forward line of Craig Bellamy, Michael Chopra, Jay Bothroyd, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and Peter Whittingham quiet.

"Any clean sheet in the Championship is massive bonus," said McCarthy.

"With the players we have got in the side we are going to create chances and are always likely to nick a goal so keeping a clean sheet is paramount for us staying in this division.

"We have defended well over the last few weeks and that is the way we are set up.

"We are set up to defend and catch teams on the counter attack and that is the way we will go about it for the rest of the season."

Next up for the Eagles is a trip to table-toppers QPR on Saturday, managed by former Palace boss Neil Warnock.

Palace's away record has been poor this season, with just one win on the road, but McCarthy thinks a visit to the league leaders will be the perfect opportunity to put that right.

"We are conscious of our away record, it's not been good enough this year," he said.

"But I think we showed on Saturday against a very strong Burnley outfit that we are heading in the right direction, I thought we more than matched them and could have come away with something.

"We are confident with the squad we have at the moment and think we can go places like QPR and get results.

"I can't wait for it.

"I thought we were unlucky to come out on the wrong side of a 2-1 result at Selhurst earlier in the season and we will go there with no fear.

"We have got a fantastic bunch of lads who are fighting for their lives in this division and you cannot ask anymore than that and there is no better place to end that run.

"The gaffer has been fantastic setting out game plans to get us results from matches so far and I am sure it will be no different on Saturday."