North Stander: There's one big problem we can't ignore - so how do we solve it?

Are you glass half-full or half-empty? Pleased we have pocketed another precious Premier League point, or frustrated that we didn’t grab the away win we deserved?

Over the weekend, I alternated between positive and negative. Obviously any away point in this toughest of leagues is very welcome.

But it could, and should, have been all three. Victory on Saturday would have seen us six places higher in the table, would have put Hull in our rear view mirror, and would have made our next game against Bournemouth pretty much a free hit.

But we paid the price for two awful defensive lapses, and it is our goals against column which is the most worrying aspect of what has overall been a solid return to the top flight.

There is no denying that we are a very entertaining watch. With 32 goals being scored in our nine games, only Chelsea fans have seen the ball fly into the net more often.

Town have no problem scoring goals - but they struggle to stop them too (Image: PA)

We can certainly score goals. Amazingly for a newly-promoted team, we are fifth top scorers. And our goals are coming from throughout the team, with four players netting twice in the league.

As I said last week, we are always in games. After virtually gifting Hull two goals, many teams would have curled up and surrendered.

But, as we do, we kept going and were rewarded with a wonderful equaliser from our man of the moment Julio Enciso. What a star he is.

But we can’t ignore our defensive problems. We are currently conceding precisely two goals a game. Only struggling Crystal Palace have leaked more.

At this rate, we will let in no fewer than 76 goals by the end of the season. Far too many for comfort.

So what are the issues? Are they individual errors or organisational problems? I would say a bit of both.

Dara O'Shea was at fault for Hull's equaliser (Image: PA)

At Hull, for the first goal Leif Davis was caught upfield and Dara O’Shea didn’t move across to fill the yawning gap. Gary O’Neill wouldn’t discuss the detail after the game, but he will be furious.

For the second, we simply put the wall in the wrong place, leaving a lovely gap for Ollie McBurnie to aim at.

I can’t really explain how that can happen at top professional level. Surely Christian Walton could see the problem?

The bottom line is that the way we are playing means we are too open at the back. If nothing changes, we will be involved in lots of topsy turvy, goal-packed games.

That’s great, so long as we come out on top in most of them. But there are absolutely no guarantees.

So, should Gary O’Neill discover his inner Mick McCarthy and shut up shop? Should we play five at the back, or three in midfield, to stifle the game?

I would say we should look at that option when the occasion is right. Certainly when Bournemouth come to Portman Road next Sunday afternoon.

But then, would that mean we stop scoring goals and risk being on the wrong end of lots of tight games?

Therein lies the dilemma. That’s why football managers earn the big bucks!

Julio Enciso celebrates with Issa Diop after making it 2-2 (Image: PA)

Let’s look at the big positives from Hull. We scored two really nice goals from Florentino Luis and Julio Enciso.

As I mentioned earlier, Enciso is our star man at the moment. When he gets in the ball, you can feel the excitement in the crowd. There is always a chance of something magical happening.

And he tries so hard! A real fans’ favourite.

And, once again, we fought back from a losing position, which means we have now got eight points coming back from being behind. More than any other team in the division.

That is such a tribute to our fighting qualities, and is a precious asset.

So, it’s the toughest of challenges coming next Sunday with the visit of Bournemouth.

They are on an incredible run - six games, six wins, no goals conceded. They are looking like genuine contenders for a Champions League place.

Gary O'Neil's Town host red-hot Bournemouth next (Image: PA)

For football fans of my generation, it’s difficult to comprehend Bournemouth being a major power.

We were brought up with the Cherries being real minnows, struggling to keep their place in the old Fourth Division.

But they are a club transformed, and we will need to be at our very best to get anything at all from the game.

Five at the back, anyone?