October 25 2016

James McArthur

Crystal Palace midfielder James McArthur says the team must improve defensively.

The Eagles are yet to keep a clean sheet in the league this season despite strengthening their back line with the acquisition of French goalkeeper Steve Mandanda and centre half James Tomkins over the summer.

McArthur, 29, was frustrated with the sloppy goals Palace conceded in Saturday's 3-1 defeat at Premier League champions Leicester.

"We haven't been clinical and on our behalf, they were soft goals to concede," he said.

"There are a lot of positives to take, but the negatives were the goals and we need to work on that."

Fellow midfielder Yohan Cabaye agrees with McArthur on the importance of not conceding – Palace's last shut-out came on April 13 in a 0-0 draw with Everton.

"I think a clean sheet would start to give us more confidence for the future," he said.

"And obviously if you don't concede at least you get a point so especially away from home we have to stay more solid and be hard to play against."