MIKE Fowler felt his side defended better despite slipping to a 1-0 defeat against in-form Stratford Town.
The Reds lost by a single goal at the Arden Garages Stadium as Omari Brown put through his own net late on.
Redditch have failed to win any of their last four matches in the league and sit sixth in the Southern League Premier Central table, outside of the play-off places on goal difference.
And Fowler praised his side’s improved defensive showing after the Reds shipped four goals against Worcester in the club’s first game of the New Year.
Fowler said: “I had questions marks after the Worcester game defensively. We’ve thrown together a back four.
“It’s not easy and we have been struggling. We had a right back at left back, a central midfielder at centre-back and a winger at right back.
“We defended loads better. I saw a lot of things that I liked in the game. It was alright, it was good. Obviously I’m not happy with losing.
“They had one shot, we’ve scored the goal for them. Omari’s upset after the game because he feels like he’s cost us the game.
“He hasn’t, Omari’s been excellent, I really get behind him because he’s a kid who wants to do well. He didn’t crumble and he kept going.
“We haven’t picked up as many points as I would have liked over the last four games but there’s some positives from a defensive perspective.”
With Redditch’s squad decimated by injuries, the club also travelled to Stratford without on-loan winger Jack Loughran.
Parent club Shrewsbury Town recalled Loughran to play in their 6-1 FA Cup defeat against Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Loughran featured from the bench for Salop and Fowler hopes to have the teenager back at the Valley Stadium this weekend.
Fowler added: “Hopefully with players coming back we don’t have players going out.
“Jack Loughran got recalled by Shrewsbury and he got 20 minutes against Wolves.
“They’ve said we can have him back this week but it depends on how well he’s done for them.
“He could be back and there’s another one we’re hoping we can get in at left back.”
Redditch are next in action against Bishop’s Stortford on Saturday, January 17 with kick-off at 3pm at the Valley Stadium.
