WEYMOUTH manager Bobby Wilkinson is intent on seeing an improved defensive display from his players against St Albans City this evening (7.45pm).

The Terras have conceded 11 goals in three home Vanarama National League South games, including the 4-1 and 4-2 defeats to Worthing and Hampton & Richmond respectively.

They now face another challenging prospect in St Albans, who have flown into the play-off spots with only one defeat this calendar year.

Speaking to Echosport, Wilkinson unequivocally stated the areas highlighted for improvement by the Terras.

He said: “I’m going to be real, it’s very important. I expect my defenders to defend a lot better.

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“Yes, I’ve been damaged by a couple of centre-halves going, but these lads who’ve come in and replaced them have to be better.

“They have to be a man against a man, especially when you’re playing one of the big boys.

“It’s a couple of defeats that don’t define where we’re going, but it’s the manner of the defeats and the defending.”

Weymouth were at training for more than three hours on Thursday after re-watching Tuesday’s defeat to Hampton.

And the extra work is symbolic of Wilkinson’s desire to nip the Terras’ mini bad run in the bud.

He said: “The players deserve a lot of credit for their extra work and commitment this week.

“We work extremely hard every week. If we don’t follow a runner with that one individual battle, it doesn’t matter about any detail or hard work.

“You’ve got to have that desire to beat your one-on-one player, make sure that if you’re marking, for instance (Luis Fernandez for Hampton), who scored two goals, then he doesn’t score.

“If they’re not, they just won’t play. We’ve got to be better against a team that, if we don’t will crucify you.”

Wilkinson also raised the potential for Charlton loanee centre-back Nazir Bakrin to make his debut.

He said: “I’m very tempted. The reason he didn’t play against Chelmsford was that he played two games that week.

“Then, we played so well at Chelmsford it was very difficult for us to change. He’s in contention to play and he’s trained very well this week.

“He’s a good player. My only concern is that he’s still a young lad who will be playing (Shaun) Jeffers who’s one of the best strikers in the league.

“We’ve just got to make sure we do OK against him, if we decide to go down that route.”

Weymouth are boosted by the return of Charlie Rowan after a two-game suspension.

Wilkinson added: “I’m absolutely over the moon, he’s back in the squad. I’m so pleased to have him, he’s been one of the most in-form players the last five or six games.

“He was a massive loss and he’s straight back in the squad.”