A member of Jamaica football’s coaching staff views the performance of the Reggae Boyz makeshift defence in an encouraging light after the team fell 0-1 to Mexico in the CONCACAF World Cup Qualifier at the National Stadium on Tuesday.

Left disappointed after the Brazil 2014 dream suffered a heavy dent, but heartened by some aspects of the team’s display, national goalkeeper coach Warren Barrett sought to add context to the Boyz defending against the perennial World Cup entrants.

“I am disappointed with the result, but I think the team did really well. They fought tooth and nail throughout the 90 minutes of the game,” the former senior team shot-stopper told the Jamaica Observer.

“What even pleases us more as members of the coaching staff is that we had onlt (Adrian) Mariappa as one of our regular players in the defence,” Barrett added.

Mariappa, now a permanent fixture in coach Theodore Whitmore’s starting eleven, was paired in central defence alongside lanky newcomer Daniel Gordon, who acquitted himself fairly well.

Those two were flanked by 18-year-old debutant Alvas Powell, who played on the right, and the recalled and defensively improved O’brian Woodbine, who held an unnatural position at left-back.

Though suffering a breakdown on the right, which led to Aldo De Nigris’ headed goal and enduring a few other nervous moments, the quartet largely held their opponents at bay.

Powell voiced optimism at his personal showing, but said his match fitness was tested severely by the fleet-footed Mexicans.

He conceded that a lack of chemistry within the back four caused “confusion” at times.

“I was confident in myself and I got a lot of encouragement to just go out and perform… to the best of my ability. I definitely (was) never nervous because I was at home and had full confidence. (But) I was a bit tired because I was alone on the flank working.

“It was a bit of a confusion, but we are working on it,” Powell told the Observer.

Woodbine, a natural right-footer, hardly ventured down the left flank to aid the Jamaican attacks, leaving some to believe he was afraid of leaving gaps behind him if Mexico were to counter-attack. He explained that the run of the play was his biggest hindrance.

“I think I played pretty well and I think the team gave a good account of themselves. The instruction from the coach was (that) I (would) defend and attack, but it was the momentum of the game why I didn’t go a lot forward,” Woodbine argued.

The Germany-based Gordon, while rueing the loss, also felt he gave a decent account of his ability.

“I am really disappointed. We wanted to win this match and I think we did well because we had a few chances to score a goal. I think I tried everything for us to win this match. There was stability in the defence, but I think I can do more and want to do more for the team,” Gordon said.

Barrett supported the players’ favourable ratings.

“The debutant Daniel Gordon, he did well; young Alvas Powell had an excellent game as well, apart from the lapse in concentration that cost us the goal; and Woodbine as well,” he said.

Barrett, who featured for the Reggae Boyz as captain at the 1998 World Cup Finals in France, suggested that the lapse would have been caused by distraction from the substitute Mexican players warming up close to that side of the field.

He insisted that the players were aware of the threats the Mexicans pose in wide areas, particularly on the left.

“It’s something we spoke about … we saw the Mexico against Nigeria (friendly) match and we know that their left side was their strength.

“I think one of the things that probably threw our players off was that the Mexicans started warming up right on that side. They got a little extra space, played a one-two behind and got a cross in,” Barrett said.