By Charles Oliver from www.gethampshire.co.uk

The great Eric Morecambe would have been proud of some of the comedy served up by Aldershot's defence on Tuesday at Gillingham.

That said, hosts Gillingham's defending was just as laughable and the collective ineptitude made for a fabulous farce.

But, talking of Morecambe, it is high time that The Shots wise up.

Four-all draws are all very well but a clean sheet guarantees at least a point; after conceding 14 goals across their last four League Two matches, Aldershot desperately need to show some defensive prowess on Saturday, against Morecambe's home town club.

A clean sheet would probably bring more besides a point; Aldershot have not had a 0-0 draw all season and, therefore, have won every time they have not conceded a goal in a League Two match.

That has happened on just six occasions but three of them were in a row in November, with the 3-0 FA Cup win at Rotherham in the mix too. So, hard to believe as it may be right now, within Gary Waddock's squad there is the ability to keep a clean sheet.

"We are an extremely talented side going forward but there are two sides to the game, defence as we as attack," said the manager.

"While our style is open and we are aware it leaves gaps for the opposition to exploit, we have kept clean sheets before and we can do it again."

To that end Waddock said that plenty of training is devoted to defensive work. "We do individual work, two versus two, one on ones, sessions with the back four as a whole.

"We practise playing with two banks of four to make us hard to break down too.

"But we continue to make individual mistakes in games. We have got to stop giving things away.

"We must give ourselves a chance. Look at Tuesday. We took an early lead but almost immediately it was 1-1. We must learn to close out games for periods. You can do as much training as you like but in a match situation it is the players who must take responsibility and respond," added Waddock.

"That said, it must also be remembered that the side is still on a learning curve in League Two," he countered.

"It's all about using the squad to find the right blend and balance," said Waddock. "We need to find a settled back four that does well. If we can do that it will breed confidence."

First-choice 'keeper Nikki Bull is still out injured - although, very possibly, he will return soon, after having an injection into his troublesome heel.

"Things are looking a lot more positive regarding Nikki," said Waddock. "He is feeling a lot happier and comfortable after the injection. There is light at the end of the tunnel. This Saturday is too soon for him, however."

But, then again, Alex McCarthy, on loan from Reading, has done little wrong, despite letting in seven goals in two games; the problems lie further forward.

Chris Blackburn and Dave Winfield looked a sluggish centre-back pairing at Gillingham on Tuesday.

Blackburn was a shadow of his usual self without Anthony Charles alongside him. Charles, in turn, was busy showing that he is not entirely comfortable at left back.

But those two players have had pretty good seasons - Charles especially - and, along with Andy Lindegaard at right back, will almost certainly start against Morecambe.

Waddock must then decide whether to stick with Winfield in the middle or recall Anthony Straker at left back and shift Charles back alongside Blackburn, a former Morecambe player.

It would be harsh to drop Winfield after he scored on Tuesday and improved on the back of that confidence-boosting goal. But, with club captain Rhys Day out of favour at the moment, Blackburn and Charles is surely Waddock's strongest centre-back pairing.

Not that Aldershot's defensive shortcomings can be pinned solely on the defence. Scott Davies is accomplished at League Two level but he and Ben Harding seldom dominate opposition midfields for long periods.

Harding is an elegant and talented player but he is struggling to find the time and space in League Two from where he can dictate the pattern of play. Providing Harding with more protection would force Waddock to move away from his favoured 4-4-2 formation but he may consider bringing in Scott Donnelly.

For 20 minutes at Brentford three weeks ago, Harding, Davies and Donnelly worked well together as a midfield three, in a tinkered formation, before Aldershot caved in after falling a goal behind.

At home, however, Waddock is likely to stick to two wide midfielders: Andy Sandell and one of Louie Soares or Kirk Hudson.

Sandell was excellent against Gillingham and is a player who, rather like Lindegaard, prefers to keep things simple. It is that sort of sensible play that would help towards that elusive clean sheet.

"Andy Lindegaard has looked solid," said Waddock. "That is good news. I have been pleased with his contribution to date." Waddock said he is yet to speak to Cheltenham Town about extending Lindegaard's loan spell but he is clearly encouraged that he may have solved the long-standing right back problem.

There is clearly nothing wrong with Aldershot going forward, despite talk of a lack of goals from the strikers; only on three occasions, none of them at the Rec, have Aldershot failed to score this season.

What Waddock needs is the balance found back in November, when clean sheets and the odd goal or two led to low-scoring wins over mid-table team likes Port Vale and Lincoln City.

Morecambe, above Aldershot by goal difference in mid-table, after playing two games more, are just such a side.

They are one of the three to a have kept a clean sheet against The Shots, in a 2-0 win in Lancashire in early November.

An inspired display from ex-Nottingham Forest 'keeper Barry Roche was the main reason for that; Aldershot created chances on the day. Grant had a penalty saved by Roche and Harding later hit the underside of the bar.

Sammy McIlroy's side arrive at the Rec in good form, however. Unbeaten in five league games, they claimed a highly-impressive last-gasp draw at Rochdale in midweek and earlier in the month they beat table-toppers Brentford, 2-0.

That was at Christie Park, where The Shrimps are so strong. Away from home they are vulnerable, which made the draw at Rochdale so impressive. They have won just twice on the road and have scored only 12 goals in 15 games, relying heavily on Rene Howe, on loan from Peterborough United. He, however, is only just returning from injury and has been on the bench in recent games.

McIlroy will be without Craig Stanley and probably Fraser McLachlan too. Good news for Aldershot is that Ryan McGivern, the game's outstanding player in the defeat at Morecambe in November, has returned to Manchester City after a loan spell.

Morecambe came up from the Conference the season before Aldershot and still have plenty of players familiar to Aldershot fans, including Jim Bentley, Michael Twiss and Wayne Curtis. Both Twiss and Curtis have scored at the Rec before, where Morecambe have shown plenty of spirit in the past.

And, with the 4-4 draw at Gillingham still fresh in the mind, there is a history of dramatic games between Aldershot and Morecambe; in 2004 The Shrimps came back from 3-0 down at the Rec to draw 3-3.

"It'll probably be 5-5 on Saturday," joked Waddock immediately after the match at Priestfield on Tuesday.

But what he really would like is a scrappy 1-0 win; his players showed they have plenty of character on Wednesday, now they must show their manager that they have a mean streak too.

"Morecambe are a good side and are enjoying a good run," said Waddock. "But we know can create chances against any side. Now we need to make ourselves more solid too.

"It is simple really: we need to cut out the mistakes, create chances - and then take them."

A simple and effective mantra; but, knowing this Aldershot side, Saturday's match will probably be far more complicated.