Nigel Pearson says Bristol City are working on a different solution to their set-piece struggles and claims striker Chris Martin remains the club's most reliable defender.
The Robins conceded two more corners against Barnsley to take their set-piece goals conceded tally to 13, the second-worst record in the Championship behind Reading.
Pearson has been frank in admitting it has remained the club's Achilles heel throughout the season and says his player's failure for being unable to pick up their designated men has been the catalyst for their defensive downfall.
Speaking ahead of Saturday's fixture with West Brom, Pearson said: "Unfortunately, we don't have reliable markers so, we might have to find a different solution.
"Players are unable to stay with the men they are designated with which has been a huge problem for us. So, unfortunately, we may have to look at a different solution and that's what we are working on at the moment.
"I'm trying to find something that our players can deal with. Chris Martin is our most reliable defender although I'm sure the centre-backs won't particularly be pleased with me saying that, but that's the reality of the situation.
"So we've had defenders who have been culpable at various stages during the season where they've not been able to deal with their designated man.
"We concede far too many goals from the centre of the penalty box because we don't or have been unable to deal with our opponents so it's a frustration but all you can do is work at it and try and find a different way dealing with it.
"Robbie Cundy the other night lost his man and Robbie's a good defender but he's playing at a level he hasn't played before so I think it's an illustration that the higher you go the problems become slightly more difficult."
When asked whether there was an idea to get a specialist set-piece coach into the club to help solve issues at the back, Pearson responded: "No, the idea is to either get the idea is to use the players we have here to either execute them better or we might need to change players.
"People always want someone to point the finger at and you're not going to get that from me where I will start singling people out. I'm the manager here and I take full responsibility for everything.
"When things aren't going well I'm happy to shoulder the responsibility for players and staff - I'm responsible for that."
Pearson's comments could suggest City may go down the full zonal-marking route, switching from the combination between that and man-marking, as is evident in the article detailing the last five corners his side have conceded.
Pearson's compliment for Martin's defensive ability throws shades of Lee Johnson's praise of former striker Famara Diedhiou just over two years ago.
Johnson said: "Famara Diedhiou is probably the best player in the world at defending the mid-goal zone. The amount of times he clears that ball in the middle ... but we can't be reliant on that because Famara Diedhiou might be out with an injury, or might suffer lack of form."
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