ANDY O’Brien thinks Wanderers must focus harder on cutting out defensive mistakes in order to climb up the league.

The centre-half, who held himself culpable for Liverpool’s second goal at the Reebok on Saturday, has been generally pleased with what has proved a settled back four through much of the season.

Alongside Gary Cahill, Jlloyd Samuel and Gretar Steinsson, the quartet have played in all but three of Wanderers’ 13 games so far.

They have conceded just 15 goals – a total bettered only by Fulham outside the top three. But as twice proved to be the case against the Reds, individual errors have often deprived them of points at crucial stages.

“It was disappointing to concede two against Liverpool in the way we did, and I know what I did wrong for the second of them,” he said.

“We have got a settled back four but we have conceded some very soft goals.

“As a team, we just need to cut out those odd mistakes and try and nick one at the other end. Once we get that balance, we’ll shoot up the league.”

Despite their mean defence, goals at the other end have also been a problem to Gary Megson’s side. Only West Brom have hit the target on fewer occasions.

“I think generally we don’t concede many goals but don’t score many either,” O’Brien said. “It’s the opposite to the way Manchester City do it. We need to try and find the balance.

“Teams don’t tend to create a lot of chances against us and a lot of the goals we concede could be stopped. The two Liverpool goals on Saturday and the one against Everton springs to mind.

“I think the only team that created quite a few chances towards the end was Hull, and there Jussi Jaaskelainen brought off some excellent saves.

“Prior to that, we don’t get battered, it is just the odd mistake which is costing us at the moment.”