Colchester United boss Tony Humes wants his side to avoid another defensive horror show this Halloween.

And he is confident his team can exorcise the demons of shipping nine goals in their last two away games.

Colchester have leaked more goals than any other side in English football, including four more in last week’s crazy 4-4 draw at home to Walsall.

However, Humes is confident they can get it right at both ends of the pitch - sparing fans any more nightmares - in this afternoon's League One date at Doncaster Rovers.

“We’ve shown our potency in attack and now it’s a case of getting everything else right,” he said.

“We’re conceding goals from the opportunities we’re giving away and we know we need to tighten up.

“We can win games by handsome margins but just need that little extra belief.

“Once we do it once, hopefully it’ll give us the confidence to do it again and again.

“A lot is made of our defensive record and it’s evident we’ve conceded too many goals, but we’ve picked up points along the way.

“If we come out of this game with another positive result, whatever the score, I’ll be happy.

“We’re in a better place to a year ago and we’re heading in the right direction.

“We’ve picked up results from games we might have lost last season, but we can’t keep conceding goals as we have in the last four or five games.”

Despite his side’s poor defensive record, Humes wants his players to stick to their attacking strengths.

“With the players we’ve got, we have to play on the front foot,” he said.

“We’ve got such pace and attacking flair and quality.

“We have to play that way but the transition side of the game is where we need to be better.

“Our defenders and players behind the ball can’t just stand and admire what’s going on. They have to be more organised.

“We’ll discuss certain things we need to do better, but a lot of it is about decision-making when they’re out on the pitch.

“It’s about dealing with certain situations but you’d like to think the memories of those recent games are still fresh enough to know that they’ve got to do better to stifle the opposition.

“It’s down to individual responsibility and not giving the opposition as much time on the ball.

“We’ve got to work harder to close them down and not give them the time to pick their passes and find free players.”

For updates of Colchester United's game with Doncaster Rovers at the Keepmoat Stadium this afternoon, visit www.gazette-news.co.uk/sport