SWINDON Wildcats are working hard to complement their free-scoring attack with a more rigid back-line, according to D-man Matt Selby.

The Cats are the second top scorers in the English Premier League this season, hitting the net 62 times in 17 fixtures, but only two sides have conceded more goals than Swindon’s 61.

No more was that form evident than last weekend, with Aaron Nell’s side claiming a pair of hard-fought 4-3 successes away at Milton Keynes Lightning and at home to Basingstoke Bison.

Swindon are currently fifth in the EPL table and Selby knows if they have aspirations higher than that they must look to stifle opposition offences better.

“We know we have got a huge offensive team with our imports and even our British guys, so we are really starting to look at our defence,” said 20-year-old Selby.

“As long as we look after that we will do OK, as we are always going to score goals because we have naturally got that ability in our team.

“I think we took good care of that at the weekend. It was a huge battle for us in Milton Keynes and we left everything out there but we regathered through the night and it was a huge performance on Sunday.”

Stevie Lyle was the Cats’ stand-out performer as Swindon claimed a first four-point weekend of the season against Milton Keynes and Basingstoke.

Selby says he and back-up netminder Jordan Hedley are two of the best in the business and are crucial to the Cats’ hopes of a more stoic defence.

“We have got a really good defensive unit and, first of all, the two goalies are fantastic and that’s the main part. If you have got two good goalies it makes our job a lot easier,” said Selby.

“It’s little things that guys might not be able to hear in the stands, a little bit of talk and when the goalie comes out and plays the puck you get to see better angles and know what’s coming behind you.

“When you have got two goalies that are doing half your job for you, it makes your night nice and easy, so it makes a huge difference.

“Then in the lines we have got a good core. It’s spread out evenly and it doesn’t matter what lines we set up against certain players, we play the same.

“We don’t have to worry about a fast start line because we are all spread out evenly. Everyone is happy together. It’s nice that you can spread your minutes out and are always good to go.”

Selby is still only a few months into life as part of the Cats camp, after making a summer switch from Basingstoke, but says the move has gone better than he could have hoped.

“I’ve had a really warm welcome, everyone has been fantastic since I have been here,” added Selby.

“I had a bit of time off last year because of injury, but I’ve come back and I think I’ve had a pretty good start.”