Martin O'Neill looks for more backbone

"Again we conceded needlessly on Saturday. If you score twice away from home in any game you should give yourself a chance.

"We showed throughout last season that we're capable of scoring goals and we're also capable of conceding them. So we've looked to rectify that this summer and we're still working on it.

"It can take time for a new defensive unit to get it right. We've got two new full-backs and a new goalkeeper. They've hardly played together yet and the hard work has only just begun.

"It will take a bit of time for us to really gel. In a really good game we had uncomfortable moments against Manchester City.

"Even when we were leading I still felt it was a defence trying to get to know each other.

"It was the first time Luke and Nicky were playing, and Martin Laursen with Brad Friedel had played together. We got through that one but we need to tighten up."

New club captain Laursen was equally disappointed with the defeat at the Britannia Stadium but said the squad would return to form when they face FH Hafnarfjordur in the second leg of their Uefa Cup tie at Villa Park on Thursday night.

"We always bounced back last season and we will try and do that again," he said. "I can't promise that but our confidence is fine. We are just sad not to have got at least a point from the weekend. But confidence is still okay.

"So we're all looking forward to this week but we can't be happy after Saturday's defeat because we are all so disappointed to have lost that game."