We must tighten up in defence, says Leicester City's Michael Morrison

Michael Morrison says Leicester City must tighten up in defence if they are to re-ignite their Championship play-off push at Barnsley tonight (7.45).

City have conceded 16 goals in the past eight matches and have failed to keep a clean sheet in the past five.

They only conceded 14 goals in their opening 14 matches of the season and Morrison admitted: "When we go forward we look like we can score, but defensively we have conceded too many. It is worrying and we have to find the right balance."

Two of Cardiff's four goals in the FA Cup fourth-round defeat on Saturday came from set-pieces and that is another concern for the 22-year-old defender.

"We're a big side, with the likes of myself, Wayne Brown, Dany N'Guessan and Ryan McGivern all being quite tall, so we shouldn't be conceding like that."

Although there are question marks about the team's defensive capabilities, Morrison has been a revelation since replacing first-choice right-back Robbie Neilson after the 1-1 draw with Ipswich on January 10. "I've played there quite a bit now and I think I'm developing a good understanding with Paul Gallagher and I like to get forward," said Morrison.

"I think I can now say I play right-back as well as centre-half and, after every game, I feel I'm becoming more confident in the position."

Morrison also scored his second goal of the campaign in the Cardiff defeat and thanked Gallagher for the assist as he headed home the Scottish international's flighted free-kick.

City fans have been critical of the team's inability to score from set-pieces.

"Gally's delivery was spot-on and it was good that it came from a set-piece," he said. "Maybe we could have scored a couple more from them.

"It does get that monkey off our back and answers a few of the critics. Gally put in some good balls and, out wide, Dany caused them all sorts of problems."

Gallagher and N'Guessan are both expected to keep their places in the City midfield for the trip to Oakwell. Manager Nigel Pearson may also reunite the Matty Fryatt-Steve Howard partnership, although Martyn Waghorn had a good game in south Wales.

Fryatt's former Leicester City team-mate Iain Hume is expected to be on the bench.

Barnsley manager Mark Robins has done well at the Yorkshire club, perennial strugglers in the Championship, and masterminded a Johnstone's Paint Trophy victory over City when he was at Rotherham last season.

But he has to work with limited resources – selling Jamel Campbell-Ryce to Bristol City last week – and Barnsley go into tonight's game on the back of three straight defeats.

The Tykes are inconsistent at home, with more defeats than wins, and Morrison said: "It will be my first visit to their place. We'll look at their strengths and weaknesses, but we won't underestimate them."