SINCE suffering the disappointing 4-1 defeat at Wycombe, we’ve been working on our defensive shape every single day this week on the training ground.

It was very similar to pre-season when we watched Germany thrash Brazil 7-1in the World Cup and it made me start working on our shape far earlier than was originally planned.

I wasn’t able to sleep after that in actual fact and it was a struggle after Saturday too because it was just so uncharacteristic from us.

Last season, we had the best defensive record in League Two and, before the weekend, we were on our way to doing the same this year too.

The red card to Jerome Binnom-Williams didn’t help our cause but I just didn’t see us conceding four goals like that coming if I’m honest.

We were punished for making mistakes and that’s what we’ve been going through in training.

We have Adam Thompson available again after suspension and Ben Coker and John White are available too so we have a few options.

But when I mentioned the defensive work we were going to be doing the lads all nodded in agreement.

They realise the importance of having that solid platform and it’s what we need to get back.

LINING UP OUR JANUARY TRANSFER TARGETS

WE’RE getting ever closer to the January transfer window and of course we’ve put together a list of players we could potentially bring to the football club.

With Jakub Sokolik having to return to Yeovil Town after injuring his knee, we could well have to look at bringing in another defender.

We should have Mads Ibenfeldt coming back at the end of January so that does give us a bit more strength in that area but we will take a look at who else is available.

We will also look at strengthening at the business end of the pitch.

It’s something we’ve been trying to do all season and we have a few options available.

Lee Barnard should be coming back soon and hopefully his confidence will be high and we could also look to promote one of young lads from within.

But we’ve also been keeping tabs on Elliot Lee since his loan spell with us was ended by a hamstring injury.

We have a very healthy relationship with West Ham though so we’re in regular touch with them and Elliot could well be coming back to us in January which would be great.

FACING BURTON BRINGS BACK GOOD AND BAD MEMORIES

FACING Burton Albion tomorrow night will bring back both good and bad memories.

Last time we played them it was very painful to be knocked out of the play-offs but we did take six points from them in the league.

I certainly don’t see it as a case of revenge or anything like that because it’s a completely different season and they have a different manager now too.

Last season is in the past and we’re all focused on making sure we don’t miss out again this year now.

DIVING IS A HUGE PROBLEM

DIVING has been a hot topic in football this week and I do agree that it is a huge problem in the game.

I personally hate it because whatever way you look at it, it’s cheating.

It needs to be obliterated but how that can happen I have no idea.

If you look at the red card Jerome Binnom-Williams got at Wycombe, their lad Josh Scowen has played the game.

I’ll be honest and, having seen the incident again on the television, I do believe it’s a sending off now.

I’m certainly not accusing Scowen of diving either, but he’s made a meal of the challenge.

He didn’t even need the physio in the end and was fine to continue but he’s played a part in Jerome getting that red card by how he reacted.

I also think we have to be careful and you can’t start taking the force out of tackling.

If you do then people will start pulling out of tackles and we call them cowards in football.

I don’t advocate players kicking out or going over the top of the ball but you do need a certain level of aggression and I would hate to see that leave our game.