It's no joke the art of marking is being lost

HERE'S a good comedy on ITV on Saturday nights. Don't miss the EFL highlights show.

- By Mike Pejic

Sorba Thomas, inset, scores after some poor defending by Wrexham last Saturday. Picture: Phil Bryan/Shutterstock

(Phil Bryan/Shutterstock)

Some of the defending I've seen in the Championship this season has been so bad you half expect the director to add a laughter track.

Sorba Thomas's goal against Wrexham last weekend is a case in point.

A simple cross to nobody, just put into the area and there were seven opposition players who just gawped at each other like Marcel Marceau as it went past them all, all leaving it for someone else.

I wasn't chortling quite so much when Stoke were equally as guilty at Millwall on Tuesday night.

They'd caught the bug and - although Stoke have defended pretty well as a unit over the last couple of months - there were a couple of wannabe Mr Beans I would have throttled if I'd been in that changing room at halftime.

Two crosses. Stoke overloaded Millwall in the penalty area, especially around the six to 12-yard spaces, but you still have to defend.

Players have to keep their shape and your back four should still be a unit inside the box.

The art of marking touch tight is getting lost. It's interesting that there are apparently more goals from corners in the Premier League because defenders are worried about being pulled up by VAR but you don't have to foul, you just have to be good at it and be prepared to do it.