THINGS could have been very different.

City could have been heading for Walsall today with Brad Jones as their goalkeeper.

Ben Williams could have been spending his afternoon on the Bescot bench, another game as the unused back-up.

Instead, he will step out in the Black Country on the verge of making club history.

One more clean sheet and Williams will stand alone as the City record-holder for six straight in the league.

He would also equal the all-time best of eight in a row set by 1911 FA Cup winner Mark Mellors.

Could anyone in the away end at Fleetwood in September have possibly pictured such a scenario?

When Williams misjudged Jimmy Ryan's wind-assisted free-kick to gift the Cod Army an early lead, it looked like his days in the City goal were up.

Jones, their recent high-profile capture, sat impatiently in the dugout waiting for his chance. Williams appeared to have handed it to him with the error.

But the former Liverpool keeper did not live up to his star billing. Phil Parkinson's patience snapped just three appearances in after an awful display against Colchester and Williams was restored.

City have not lost in their nine league games since, nor let in a goal since Michael Jacobs scored for Wigan on October 24. Three days later, Jones left the club.

Williams said: "I have had seasons when I have kept a good amount of clean sheets. I can remember it going quite well for a couple of years at Colchester and Crewe – but not consecutive clean sheets like this.

"It was a strange one when Brad came in, as I had not really been in that position before. I only ever missed out on games through injury or illness and never for that long.

"I wasn't happy to come out of the team, no-one ever is. Was I fault for the Fleetwood goal? Yes. But it is one of those things, a freak occurrence that can happen now and again.

"There was probably a buzz for Brad coming in due to the pedigree he has got and the level he had been involved at.

"It didn't work out for whatever reason but that doesn't make me change my outlook. I am a very competitive person anyway.

"Whether in the team or out, you want that jersey. That is what I want to do until the end of the season."

A run now spanning 11 hours without conceding is as good a way as any for nailing down the position. Moments like the superb double save at Scunthorpe last week and two more key blocks against Coventry have won over the doubters in the stands who were knocking him after that howler at Highbury.

Williams said: "Everyone notices when a goalkeeper makes a mistake. If someone makes a loose pass or a forward drags a shot wide, the thought process is 'Unlucky, make up for it next time'.

"But if you make a mistake in goal, nine times out of ten the ball goes in the net. The finger is pointed at you.

"Goalkeepers in the modern day do get judged on mistakes. It doesn't matter how good you are, if you make mistakes on a regular basis then you won't achieve the level you should.

"You have to limit them and, thankfully, at the moment things are working out.

"Confidence is high – and rightly so because the lads have done well over a good period and against a large spectrum of opponents. They have also coped with different conditions, plus the travelling.

"We have defended fantastically as a team. No-one wants the run to end but, when it does, we just go and build another."

Third-placed Walsall stand in the way of Williams reaching a milestone that has stood alone for more than a century.

It will be another challenge but, having shut out improving Scunthorpe and free-scoring Coventry in their latest outings, nothing that City should shy away from.

Williams can also bank on plenty of support for his history-equalling mission.

He said: "We said the week was going to be a big test. We had three games against good teams who are up there, two of which were away.

"But it was the sort of test we wanted to put ourselves up against. Every team at the top wants to take points off those nearby.

"The fans have a big part to play. I remember at the start of last season at Rochdale and all those fans there.

"When you go to an away ground, you know things can be fairly hostile towards you. So to have those fans there when you come out is great.

"Sometimes, it is worse when there is no atmosphere. If it is cold or quiet, things like that.

"But to have 2-2,500 Bradford fans shouting for us gives everyone a lift. The lads bounce off that and it gets us going.

"It brings the pressure that players thrive on. We are thankful to the travelling fans and we will be again at Walsall."