Sunday felt like déjà vu. Watching us concede in a way that left the scorer with time and space brought back that Ross County day a couple of years ago when points slipped away at a pivotal moment. You can call the first goal a scream and accept that sometimes things go against you, but the second was avoidable. That’s the worrying bit.
Where it's going wrong
Too often recently we look porous rather than assured. Individual bodies are in the right area, maybe, but the moments that matter — tracking runners, closing down the near post, basic marking on set pieces or crosses — aren’t happening. Even someone you expect to be rock-like at the back, Fernandez, hasn’t looked entirely convincing in defensive moments. It’s not about blame for one player though; it’s about how the unit works together and whether the system is masking problems rather than fixing them.
That Ross County comparison isn’t accidental
There’s history here. When we lose a bit of shape or confidence at the back, results follow. That Ross County slip exposed a lack of consistency and we’ve seen similar little cracks reappear. To be fair, every team has off days, but the pattern is the issue. If we’re conceding because we’re getting dragged out of position or not protecting our centre-backs with midfield cover, then tellingly the same mistakes keep rearing up.
What I'd like to see
If Danny keeps persisting with the same flat four and the goals keep coming, then adjustments are required. Maybe we don’t currently have the right personnel balance or the defensive stability for that shape. I wouldn’t be upset to see a shift back to five at times — it buys protection, helps nullify wide threats, and can steady younger or less confident defenders. It’s a pragmatic move, not a confession of failure. Tightening up off the ball, being ruthless about tracking runners and clearer communication will do wonders too.
Truth is, we all want clean sheets and the odd lucky strike to be enough. Get the defence organised and the rest falls into place. Keep tinkering for tinkering’s sake and we’ll keep conceding the same soft goals.
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