BARNSLEY goalkeeper Murphy Cooper admits Tuesday’s loss in Lincoln felt like a ‘step backwards’ in terms of defensive solidity and knows they need to become more consistent quickly.

Cooper, who has been an ever-present in league games since signing on loan from QPR in the summer, has kept three clean sheets this season.

Two had been in the previous four games, but the Reds then conceded three poor goals in a loss at Sincil Bank in midweek.

Cooper told the Chronicle: “We were improving in terms of defending the box. We’ve kept a couple of clean sheets and I felt we were making forward steps then Lincoln feels like a step backwards but the most important thing is to learn from it and go again.

“We need to build again, start defending better and hopefully get more clean sheets will come but more importantly wins.”

The mid-table Reds have been hit and miss in terms of results and performances for most of the season.

“At times we look so good and so assured, playing brilliant stuff.

“Consistency is a massive area we can improve.

“If we want to get to where we know we have the quality to get to, we know we need to work on that.

“Defending better and stopping goals will always be helpful.”

Cooper is looking forward to the busy Christmas period.

“Games are coming thick and fast but it’s a good opportunity to pick up points quickly. If we can go on a run, there are lots of points up for grabs.

“We just need to keep working hard and hopefully find more consistency.”

In Lincoln, the Reds levelled through Davis Keillor-Dunn but conceded 12 seconds after kick-off then again three minutes later.

Cooper said: “It was really disappointing. I thought we were the better team in the first half and they scored against the run of play. In the second half, we built back into the game and worked really hard to score a good goal.

“The second goal we conceded is really poor. We had the momentum but it was a real blow.”