DEFENSIVE drills are on top of Paul Cox's agenda this week as he looks to plug the leaks in Barrow AFC's defence.

Cox was not happy with the manner in which Dover's goals came about in their 3-1 defeat of AFC at the weekend.

Cox felt the Bluebirds matched the home side for long periods and that it was lapses at the back which cost them.

And with captain Danny Livesey and full-back Shaun Beeley doubtful for the bank holiday double header, Cox believes hard work on the training ground this week is key to solving the problem.

Cox said of the Dover defeat: "I've watched the DVD and I've had time to reflect on the game and I think overall it was a very even game in terms of general possession and chances created.

"You look at the chances Dover had compared to their scoring ratio and that was the difference between the two sides.

"The disappointing aspect of our game is how we are conceding sloppy goals at the minute.

"That's not usually how we we have been since I've been at the club. We are usually very strong in that department, so that is something we are working on and something that I'm very focused on, moving forward."

Cox's side entertain Braintree Town on Saturday before heading to North Ferriby on Monday, and they might have to play both games without Livesey (knee) and Beeley (groin).

"It's a new squad that has been thrown together and we have lost key personnel like Shaun Beeley and Danny Livesey for periods of time," said the manager.

"You take those out of any side at our level of football and they are going to leave massive holes. You lose both of them and it creates a bigger problem.

"They are not excuses. The players we have brought in are more than adequate, but the little one per cents always add up, especially at this level of football where there is such a fine line between success and failure.

"That was the difference between the two sides. I wouldn't necessarily say Dover were more clinical, but I don't think they had to be clinical with the three goals they scored.

"All three of them were sloppy from our point of view. It'something we need to work on and something we need to eradicate from our game.

"It was something that was here when I arrived and we worked on it and got it spot-on, so that we weren't conceding sloppy goals and teams were having to work really hard to score past you.

"Its something that we need to address in training."

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