I think one of the problems we have is that Dougie Hill isn't a leader, and that's no criticism of him. I just feel that he has to be 100% focussed on his own game to be the excellent defender that he normally is. With Paul Watson along side him, he knows he can do that. To an extent he can with Ellis as well, but everyone is very much aware that we're exposed to pace in that situation.
It goes back to that Fife derby we lost at East End, for me, when Colin Wilson started and was at fault for the two goals that left us 2-0 down at half time, when he was substituted. Yes, he made the errors that led to the goals, but the defence itself was a nightmare for those 45 minutes, with a much bigger impact than you'd expect with there just being one young defender slotted into the team.
Watson and Hill have formed an understanding, rather than a proper partnership. They know their own jobs inside out, and have the confidence that each other will be doing what they have to.
I'm not sure if he's trying to compensate with Donaldson, if he's trying to do more than he should, or if Hill is looking after his own area and when Donaldson does that too, it leaves us open to gaps (which is understandable, given that Donaldson has only played a handful of senior games at centre half) but it's an issue that hopefully solves itself with the prolonged return of Watson. If, for whatever reason, Watson isn't available for a run of games before the end of the season, then we need to either find a simpler way of setting up for set pieces, or a clearer and cleverer way of dealing out the defensive responsibilities.
Certainly for next season I'm sure there'll be a more solid defensive Plan B in place. This season's back up, Laurie Ellis, has been sadly (and I mean that, it saddens me) performing at nowhere near the required level.