IT never rains but it pours. All too soon after losing Michael Duff for the season with a cruciate knee ligament injury, Burnley are now going to be without their captain, Steven Caldwell, for six weeks.

It's a second major blow for a defence that is in desperate need of strengthening after the last two outings.

With a quarter of the season gone, it's still reasonably congested from third or fourth place downwards, but the Clarets are going to have to improve significantly if they are to leap right back up into the mix.

Even though we got the three points at home to Norwich last week, I was still disappointed with the performance after it looked so promising with an early two-goal lead. So I was looking for a big improvement on Saturday, but sadly, it was worse.

We looked second best all over the field. Individual players are looking mediocre, and the chances that are being created against us are coming from central positions in the 18-yard box.

The continuing struggle with defensive headers is also a major concern. It's a division where there are a lot of big players, so there is always going to be a threat from corner kicks and free kicks.

I thought the goalkeeper was at fault for the third goal because the ball was in the air for a long time before it was headed in from around four yards out. I felt Gabor Kiraly could have come out for that cross.

Duff is probably our best header of the ball, and to have him missing long term is obviously a major loss.

Graham Alexander came as a recognised right back, and now he is filling that void after starting in midfield, I was disappointed with how he got caught flat-footed for the second goal. But being flat-footed hasn't just affected Alexander this season, we've got to attack the ball more.

In recent seasons, the Clarets have prided themselves on a strong and solid backline, and while there are probably tweaks that need to be made in midfield and in attack, the first in needs of strengthening has got to be the defence because we're leaking too many goals.

And not just that, you've got to take into account the chances the opposition are missing. Every time teams go forward they look like scoring against us.

There have been distruptions beyond anyone's control, with injuries to players and targets choosing to go elsewhere, but the scouts need to be out scouring the country because the last two performances are not acceptable.

Tomorrow's trip to Sheffield United begins another tough week. I'm sure the Blades are in a false position, but hopefully the cup game against Arsenal has taken something out of their legs that Burnley can try to capitalise on.

There is a familiar face there in Gary Cahill, and I'd love to see him back at Turf Moor right now. He did well for us. He won the ball in the air, was a good tackler and just looked class.

Sheffield United have struggled so far this season but you can't take that for granted with players like James Beattie and Danny Webber in the side.

I think the best plan in the circumstances is to go to Bramall Lane defensively minded, and try to take whatever chances that come.