Colchester United’s current defensive woes could be aptly summed up in the conceding of the first goal at Burton Albion, during Saturday’s 5-1 defeat at the Pirelli Stadium.
Individual errors have dogged the U’s all season, but this was an organisational howler as well.
The U’s failed to line-up their defensive wall correctly, shuffling too far to one side and so allowing Burton leading scorer Nasser El Khayati the easy task of almost passing his free-kick into the net.
“That was catalogue of errors,” admitted U’s joint interim manager, Richard Hall, with reference to Burton’s opening goal.
“He (keeper Jamie Jones) wanted someone on the other end of the wall, so they took George (Moncur) off one side, but didn’t then shuffle across.
“The ball hasn’t been bent around the outside of the wall, it’s just been placed in the corner.
“It’s things like that - that responsibility and that professionalism - which we are lacking at the moment.”
Hall is a front-runner to be named the new Colchester boss this week.
Others in consideration for the vacant post, in succession to Tony Humes, are John McGreal and Wayne Brown, with fellow coaches David Wright and Steve Ball also expected to be interviewed.
Chairman Robbie Cowling is determined to make an internal appointment, and to have the new man installed before this Sunday’s home game against Altrincham in the second round of the FA Cup.
The U’s have conceded more goals (49 in 20 league matches) than any other club in the Football League.
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