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Short aims to tighten up County defence
CRAIG Short knows a thing or two about defending - now his priority is to tighten up his Notts County team for tonight's match at Hillsborough.
The former County, Derby, Everton, Blackburn and Sheffield United defender has seen his side concede nine goals in four League matches.
"We have got to start keeping clean sheets," said the Meadow Lane boss. "We have to give ourselves a foundation to build on to win games.
"We have to get the defence back to how it was last season, even though they have come up a division.
"It is worrying because they were so strong last season, and we have got to put it right."
Short was appointed in the summer after County were taken up as League Two champions by Steve Cotterill, who quit and took over at Portsmouth.
Last season they set a club record with 26 clean sheets. But they have conceded three in each of their games against Huddersfield, Oldham and Bournemouth. They snatched a point at Dean Court last Saturday with two goals in stoppage time.
They are 18th with four points and have lost 3-0 at home to Huddersfield, won 1-0 at Plymouth in the Carling Cup, lost 3-0 at Oldham, beaten Dagenham and Redbridge 1-0 at home, won 2-1 at Watford in the Carling Cup and drew 3-3 at Bournemouth.
County's former Wednesday keeper Rob Burch, who switched from Lincoln in the summer, broke a toe in the second game of the season and is not expected to play tonight.
Ex-Owls defender Graeme Lee and former Blades left back Jon Harley could be rested as Short has been making changes for Cup ties and could give another outing to the line-up that won at Watford in the Carling tournament.
Striker Lee Hughes has a groin injury and is set to miss out.
The team is likely to include one of Alan Irvine's former players, centre half Liam Chilvers, who was released by Preston after the end of last season.
Team (possible): Nelson; Thompson, Chilvers, Pearce, Hunt; Hubbins, Ravenhill, Bishop, Davies or Spicer; Jervis, Smith. (4-4-2).
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Weather for Sheffield
Saturday 26 May 2012
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