Saturday, February 3, 2001

ANGRY Jan Molby has promised changes to his Kidderminster Harriers defence after a 2-0 defeat at Carlisle United extended their run to eight games without a win.

Harriers' Danish manager has al-ready revamped his midfield and attack in the club's first season in the Football League.

But now Molby will turn his attention to the blunder-prone defence that had looked far more solid earlier in the Division Three campaign.

If Frenchman Parfait Medou-Otye and left-back Scott Stamps are fit after hamstring injuries, they are sure to be drafted in for tomorrow's derby trip to Shrewsbury Town.

Saturday's defeat lifted opponents Carlisle off the bottom of the table and it only took two goals within the first 16 minutes.

Molby, whose side are searching for their first win of 2001, fumed: "At the first given opportunity, there will be changes in the defence -- that's for sure.

"In the second-half, we had 90 or 95 per cent of the play but it doesn't really matter because we have lost 2-0 due to our defending. The defenders haven't done their job. We have one or two experienced players at the back and they have to do more, take more responsibility."

And a typically straight-talking Molby added: "We have brought in better players and we are playing football at a higher tempo than earlier in the season but we have ended up with a defence that cannot defend."

Lacklustre Harriers continue to drop down the table at an alarming rate but it could have been so different after just two minutes.

Molby had bemoaned their lack of luck earlier in the week and he must have had his head in his hands when Drewe Broughton's fine looping header from an Adie Smith cross hit the post in only the second minute.

Harriers, who recalled Andy Ducros to the midfield and moved Smith to left-back for Stamps, then went downhill quickly.

A good Carlisle move cut open the visitors defence on nine minutes when Steve Soley fed Scott Dobie to break into the box and cross for an unmarked Ian Stevens to tap home.

And the Cumbrians added a quick second on 16 minutes when Mark Birch's long pass cut out centre-back Craig Hinton and Dobie expertly finished past Stuart Brock.

In-form Carlisle, who had already beaten Harriers twice this season at Aggborough before an LDV Vans Trophy defeat, were home and dry.

Impressive home keeper Matt Glennon tipped round the post from on-loan Drewe Broughton's long-range effort on 26 minutes and kept chances to a minimum, helped by his defensive team-mates.

Harriers threatened more in the last half-hour and the lively Broughton was again denied by an alert Glennon on 72 minutes.

Goalkeeper Glennon then had to parry well after low raking shots from Broughton and Neil Mackenzie who continued his good form with a strong display in midfield.