Buxton looks to bolster his leaky defence
JAKE Buxton will aim to add a defender to his Burton Albion squad on loan in time for Saturday’s visit to Plymouth Argyle.
But he is also hoping to bring summer signings Neal Eardley and Michael Bostwick back into action as soon as possible after injury.
The need for more and better in defence is glaringly obvious for the Brewers after a third successive 4-2 defeat, this time against League Two opposition in Cambridge United on Tuesday night.
“We are trying to get another body in, someone on loan, to help in the defence,” said Buxton.
“We also desperately need Michael Bostwick and Neal Eardley back in the side.
“Especially for the defensive setplays, I think Bostwick will make a big difference. I said when I first signed him, he’s here to replace me, in terms of the aerial jobs.”
That said, Buxton thought the team he put out against Cambridge should have been able to do the job.
“There were enough senior players out on the pitch, enough endeavour and enough strength and height out there to compete, but players were just not doing their jobs,” he said.
“It’s really, really frustrating, the goals we’re conceding at the minute.
“We are vulnerable to conceding at set-plays and opponents are going to look at that and aim to take advantage of it.
“I’m hurting that we are conceding goals as we are.”
Buxton again felt there were positives to take from the performance, his side having dominated the first 20 minutes of the match and racing into a two-goal lead inside four minutes.
But he feels they are only contributing one aspect of what is needed at the moment.
“I said on Saturday that there were some positives and there were again, with some good performances and some great play but, ultimately, we haven’t shown enough character to defend our box,” he said.
“We looked a threat going forward. We changed the formation to 3-5-2, played some good football and they couldn’t get near us.
“The difference between us and them was staggering for 25-30 minutes but once we stopped moving the ball quickly, they became more organised and we stopped being patient.
“Then it became a battle and, at the minute, we’re not competing in a battle, in either box but especially in our own.
“It’s time to roll up our sleeves and show that whatever the opposition throw at us, we’re ready to fight.
“We can play, we’ve shown that. When we get the ball down and play we’re as good as anybody but it’s only one part of the game.
“The fighting, winning your individual battles, winning your headers, is what gets people careers, not just being pretty on the ball.”