SKIPPER Micky Barron believes the key to getting back on track this season is to tighten up at the back.

After just two wins in 11 League and Cup outings, Pool have slipped down the League One table and have won only three times at home this season, Monday's draw with Swindon was the latest disappointment.

And while Pool have struggled to score goals in the absence of strikers Adam Boyd and Joel Porter - they have scored just 28 in 26 games - keeping them out has also proved a problem.

The defence has conceded 33 times and kept just four clean sheets.

Barron admitted: "We've got to start imposing ourselves on teams from the start, instead of only playing in patches. I don't think the busy Christmas programme can be used as an excuse, because everyone of our lads are very, very fit.

"We often have to play a few games in a short space of time, so I don't think we can use that as an excuse.

"We've lost Neill Collins, who has gone back to Sunderland, but we've got enough players to cope.

"As a team we need to start keeping clean sheets because we haven't done it enough this season.

"It works both ways as a team. If the lads at the back are keeping clean sheets, it helps the lads up front as they relax a bit more and can start putting goals away, which makes us a better team all round.

"The lads at the back have to knuckle down and hopefully we can start keeping the opposition out.''

After Collins returned to Sunderland, Pool have been linked with moves for two former players in Graeme Lee and Chris Westwood.

Lee has been told he can leave Sheffield Wednesday, while Westwood could be one of the players made available from Walsall this month.

Boss Paul Merson has vowed to make changes to his squad and Westwood has been unable to dislodge the club's regular central defensive partnership after recovering from injury.

"Everyone knows how well Graeme Lee did for this club, but I don't speculate on other teams' players,'' said Scott. "I haven't spoken to him.''

* Mick Harford admits he is ''very keen'' to rejoin the managerial merry-go-round amid speculation linking him with Lincoln.

Imps boss Keith Alexander and his assistant, Gary Simpson, were ''put on leave'' until further notice after a meeting on Monday.

And Harford, who began his playing career at Sincil Bank, is already being tipped to take over from Alexander having recently been sacked by Rotherham.

Harford said: ''I've not spoken to anyone or heard anything but I'm very keen to return to football coaching and management as soon as possible.

''I can't afford not to work and remain keen to carve out a career in management.

''I've got very fond memories of my time at Lincoln.

"It's a great city and a cracking little club, but we'll just have to see what happens.''

Alexander and Simpson's fate will be decided later this week.

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