Conor Hourihane says Barnsley will make changes to their defensive approach after Saturday’s loss at Bolton but he will continue to instruct his team to play out from the back.
The Reds have kept the fewest league clean sheets in English football this season with two while they have let in 72 goals in all competitions including three in a very poor first half in the 3-2 loss at the weekend.
Head coach Hourihane said: “It's been a common theme over the season and we're getting to a stage now where it needs to stop. I've been really frustrated with that. The squad know that, the defenders know that, the team knows that over the last couple of days.
"We do score a lot of goals because we like to attack and we like to play an attacking style of football, but we need to start shoring up the defence because it's one too many for my liking.
“Some words were said and we're looking for a big improvement now moving forward on that.”
Hourihane uses a possession-based style but Barnsley have lost the ball in some recent games attempting to pass out from the back.
Asked if he would alter that approach, he told the Chronicle: “I think we are where we are and we do what we do. I think we conceded from two set plays the other day and that's nothing to do with playing out from the back. I think the second Northampton goal was a long ball into the box. We need to defend that moment better.
"So I don't think playing out from the back has cost us too much, to be honest with you. It's more the fundamentals of defending our box at key moments and key times. We want to take care of the ball in many parts of the game, whether playing out from the back or in the final third. That would stay the same.”
Asked what they would change, he said: “That will stay in-house, but there has been a lot of conversations over the last few days. I've been scratching my head about it all season, to be honest with you. We've taken an approach over the last few days, and hopefully that will have an effect over the next kind of block of games.
“I’m not saying that it's going to happen straight away, and Stevenage (away on Tuesday) is going to be the perfect defensive performance. I’m hoping obviously there's going to be a big improvement. There has to be.
“But hopefully, over the next five or six games, we can see an improvement from that point of view because, if we do that, then we'll pick up more points than we have been over recent times just because we know we've got the ability to win games at the other end of the pitch.”
Hourihane admitted coaches and players need to take responsibility for defensive failings.
“It’s not just the defence, it's everyone involved in it. It's a constant process and constant battle to improve and this has been the glaringly obvious one over the course of the season.
“The defenders obviously and the goalkeepers probably were the ones at the forefront of my mind yesterday when we were in and chatting about it. But there have been goals when it’s not been the defence’s fault and they need to tell those lads. They have to take a little bit more personal pride on giving it to other lads as well, if they're costing goals.”
In general, there has been angst in the fanbase during a run of two wins in 11 and after a transfer deadline day which saw top-scorer Davis Keillor-Dunn sold and, while Tom Bradshaw came in, they missed out on the extra striker they wanted.
Hourihane said: “I’m fully aware of the frustrations I see and hear the noise.
“I’m not going to sit here and say I don't.
“Me and the players need the fans’ support. We need to put in performances that excite the fans as well, without a doubt.
“I think we've done that over the last couple of home games, not obviously Bolton, but I think from our home performances point of view, I think they've been decent and exciting a lot of people and we need to start doing that away from home that bit more, and then obviously we've got two exciting home games on the horizon after the Stevenage.”
