Best form of attack is defence for Swindon Wildcats (From Swindon Advertiser)

Best form of attack is defence for Swindon Wildcats

6:00am Friday 15th March 2013 in Sport By Ned Payne

HEAD coach Ryan Aldridge has urged his Swindon side to tighten up at the back following last weekend's defensive horror show.

The Wildcats let in no less than 16 goals in two games which included a 10-2 defeat to Milton Keynes on Saturday.

That took their record in the last five games to 32 goals conceded, a figure which Aldridge believes must improve by the time the EPL play-offs begin in a fortnight.

Solid team defence is the key for the Link Centre supremo and he wants to see that in action when Swindon welcome Bracknell and travel to Guildford this weekend.

He said: “The D-zone is still a little bit weak, we’re not prepared to take the body and that’s something the guys are going to have to improve down the line.

“There’s a reason why we’re one of the highest-scoring teams in the league with one of the highest goals against totals - it’s our D-zone, simple as that.

“When we play good team defence we’re a good hockey team, but we play it well one night and take the next night off.

“We have the scoring power in our team and the D and the whole team need to buy into team defence every night.”

Swindon have won just one of their last five games in the EPL - a penalty shots victory over Slough - and that is a balance Aldridge is keen to redress.

“We need to start winning some matches,” he said.

“Bracknell are a tough match-up for us. They try to play physical and we struggle to match that. Our skill levels are there but we'll have to do some things we don't want to do to beat them.

“We get a little bit intimidated by them sometimes but we have to overcome that.”

He added: “Guildford are a top team and I'm sure they are going to win the championship. They are a solid hockey team all the way through their line-up.

“They are a strong side offensively and we will have to play smart against them. They like to score goals from close in that is where we've struggled recently.”

Czech D-man Jan Melichar is fit again after illness and could replace the touch-and-go Tomas Fojtik for the contests against Bracknell and Guildford. Aldridge also hopes to welcome Shane Moore back.

Swindon have a tough final weekend heading into the play-offs with Guildford and Basingstoke lying in wait.