COLCHESTER United defender Tom Eastman says he and his team-mates must “stick together” and improve their defensive record.

The U’s have conceded an avalanche of goals and have now shipped more than 40 in League One.

Four of those came in Saturday’s heavy 4-1 defeat at Millwall.

“We have to improve our defensive record – it’s the reason we are where we are in the table,” said Eastman.

“There have been a few individual errors but if someone does make a mistake, you need one of your mates to bail them out a bit more.

“It’s not really going for us at the minute and it has to change.

“In the last few years we’ve probably been tighter at the back but not scored as many goals, but it’s flipped around at the minute.

“It’s definitely the best attacking team in my time here, but obviously we’re conceding too many at the other end.

“It’s not nice to go through, as a defender, but we can only improve.

“We just need to stick together and hopefully then we’ll get a few more clean sheets.”

U’s boss Tony Humes was forced to shuffle his defensive pack at Millwall, with Tosin Olufemi and George Elokobi recalled to the back four at the expense of Frankie Kent and Matthew Briggs, who both missed out through illness.

“Last year I had quite a few partners at centre-half, but this year it’s been full-backs too,” said reigning player-of-the-season Eastman.

“It’s not ideal, but hopefully a few are on the mend and we’ll have competition for places again soon.”

Eastman, 24, had to come off early in the second half during Colchester’s defeat at Coventry.

The former Ipswich man rarely misses a minute but suffered a knock and had to be replaced in the 52nd minute.

“I haven’t had an injury for quite a while,” he said.

“I sat down in the dressing room at half-time and it stiffened up.

“It was probably the right decision, to bring me off, and if I’d played on, it might have become a longer-term injury.

“I’ve had a few knocks but been lucky not to pick up any bad injuries or anything too serious.”