ELLIOTT Moore knows Oxford United must tighten up defensively to boost their chances of reaching the play-offs.

The U’s have conceded 54 goals in 42 Sky Bet League One games, more than any other team in the top 11.

United were generally solid in successive defeats to Plymouth Argyle, Morecambe and Sunderland, only for sloppy moments to cost them as they slipped to eighth in the table.

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Moore acknowledges it is a problem the U’s must fix fast as they search for a first clean sheet since February at Fleetwood Town tomorrow.

The centre back said: “The reason might be that we score so many that it leaves us a little bit open.

“That’s up to us to sort out and be a lot tighter.

“It’s frustrating, because if you look at the stats it’s not like we’re getting overrun.

“It’s something we need to work on, because teams get promoted by not conceding too many goals and we’ve conceded way too many.”

United’s last clean sheet came at Crewe Alexandra on February 22, when Moore sustained an ankle injury that kept him out for the whole of March.

The 25-year-old was primed to return for the trip to Plymouth, but caught an illness that also forced him to miss the Morecambe defeat.

It was the latest issue of a stop-start campaign for Moore, who has made just 32 appearances – having played every minute last season.

“This year started off with missing games and I’ve kind of been in and out,” he said.

“The period I was off was the longest I’ve had in football, so it was really frustrating.

“It was tough, I got back quicker than expected from the ankle injury and then missed the two big games I wanted to be back for.

“I’m just glad to be back fit and healthy.”

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Moore returned against Sunderland, heading his first goal for a year from Billy Bodin’s free-kick.

The U’s have scored 12 times from set-pieces in 2021/22, down from 20 last season, and the defender admits their threat has decreased.

He said: “We learnt last year that set-pieces are massive, for and against.

“At the start of the season defensively we were a bit shaky, but we’ve tidied that up and we’re quite solid.

“Offensively, I don’t think we’re as good as we were last year.”