LOUIS GRAY has been challenged to break the record for successive clean sheets by a Chester goalkeeper.

The 25-year-old stopper, who was on loan with the Blues last season, made the move permanent in the summer after leaving Carlisle United and has started all 16 National League North games this term.

High-flying Chester have climbed up to second place in the table after beginning 2021 with two wins in a row, Anthony Johnson and Bernard Morley's side building on a 3-0 success over Telford United by beating Guiseley 1-0.

Although he has kept clean sheets in those back to back victories, Gray is still some way off John Danby's league record of seven straight shut-outs for the Blues, but Blues goalkeeper coach Jon Worsnop is aiming high.

"I have started the year with two clean sheets which is good," said Gray.

"The goalkeeper coach Jon Worsnop has set me the target of beating the record for Chester which is seven on the bounce so we will see about that one!

"I am happy with the way I have been playing.

"It is nice to get two clean sheets on the bounce but as I have said before, I would be happy to take no clean sheets all season if we got promoted because it is all about the three points."

Gray started his career at arch rivals Wrexham but he never made a first team appearance for his hometown club and had spells with Everton and Carlisle before arriving at The Deva Stadium.

Now getting the run of first team games that he wanted, Gray is delighted with his form and is loving life with the Blues.

"It is playing games but then alongside that it is enjoying it," said Gray.

"I am not going to lie, I absolutely love it at Chester. I never thought I would love it so much.

"The gaffers have been great with me, I love playing every week and it is a class bunch of lads.

"We have got a great team which can do whatever we want to do this season in terms of promotion. It is just down to us.

"I am just really enjoying my football and it is obviously good to be playing every week."

Chester were thwarted in their bid to make it three wins in a row as Saturday’s clash at Bradford Park Avenue was postponed because of a frozen pitch but the Blues will be heading back to west Yorkshire tomorrow after they hastily re-arranged the game after Brackley - Avenue’s intended opponents this weekend - reported Covid issues.

Now second in the table, Chester are seven points behind leaders Gloucester City with a game in hand but Gray is just concentrating on the Blues maintaining their challenge rather than focusing on their rivals.

"We have just got to take each game as it comes," said Gray.

"Gloucester got off to a flier but they are not in the best of form at the moment, and they have lost key players and their manager.

"We have just got to focus on our own game and keep the points ticking over, and see what happens at the end of the season."