RESTORING a watertight defence is the name of the game for Oxford United – and will take a 11-man effort when they host Coventry City this afternoon, according to skipper John Mousinho.

Despite scoring in every game this season, Karl Robinson’s men have lost their last three matches in Sky Bet League One, where only the bottom two sides, Bolton Wanderers and Southend United, have conceded more goals so far.

Mousinho acknowledged it was an area which had to improve as they target a clean sheet at the Kassam Stadium today.

The United captain said: “We’ve conceded far too many goals since the first three games, where I thought we were very solid defensively.

“I think in the last four games we’ve let in 11 goals, so from a defensive point of view we obviously need to do better than that.

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“We need to give ourselves a much better chance of winning games.

“We’ve been getting the defensive unit in most days and have them look at the clips to work out what we do differently.

“A lot of it is very small details, but they are things that when they do go wrong become massive and cost us goals.

“We’re well aware of it, we’re not happy with it and it’s something that needs improving.”

While the focus inevitably goes on to the back four when sides regularly leak goals, Mousinho believes it will take a team effort to put it right.

He said: “I think the best approach is if and when we keep clean sheets to credit the entire side.

“It is a cliché but you do defend from the front.

“They make our jobs as defenders massively easier if they are pressing right.

“I think if you can see it more as a collective effort then you’re in a much better place.

“Most goals are down to three or four mistakes.

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“We made plenty of mistakes in the first three games but didn’t compound them – somebody dug someone else out of a hole.

“In the last few games we just haven’t done that.”

City are likely to provide a stern test, with only goal difference keeping Mark Robins’ side off the top of the table.

Boss Karl Robinson said: “Some of the football they play is sensational and we’re going to have to be on our A-game to compete with them.”