"I THINK most of us thought it was going to be tough at the start of the season but certainly didn't expect to lose 4-1 in the first game," writes George Burley in his exclusive Daily Echo column today.

"It was down to a few factors.

"There were some bad mistakes going against us and there's no doubt we're not as strong as we hoped to be at the back at the start of the season but that's happened now.

"It's gone and we now have to look forward to try and build.

"We had to balance things in the summer by selling our two best players. It had to be done and the club's in a position to try and bring one or two players in now which is important.

"We've got a nucleus but there's no doubt we need to add to it and we are looking to push ahead.

"One or two players have not shown the form of last season and that's got to be addressed as well.

"Sometimes changes can affect players but we need them to perform and my job is to try and get the squad together to perform and win games and that's something we're looking to do hopefully over the next few games.

"It's not an easy league and we've now got Norwich away and Stoke at home which is very tough but that's the league we're in."

Read the rest of George Burley's views in today's Daily Echo