Lydon (left) and head coach Andy Robinson hope to find a solution

"I understand the criticism," Lydon told BBC Five Live. "We didn't play particularly well in attack.

"We scored eight tries but there was an awful lot we didn't get right and a lot of opportunities we didn't take.

"It is frustrating. We want to play an attacking brand of rugby that's good to watch but it has to be a winning one."

Lydon defended the decision to pair Mike Tindall and Jamie Noon together at centre for the opening two autumn Tests against Australia and New Zealand, two players many observers felt were too similar in style.

"It was a combination we believed we had to try and work to make it right," Lydon, responsible for England's backs, said.

Once Jonny is fit and showing the form he is capable of I am sure he will be back in the England squad Joe Lydon

"Mike hadn't played for England since last autumn and Jamie has been on top of his game in the Premiership and for England during the last Six Nations.

"We felt the alternatives weren't quite right at the time but James Simpson-Daniel was exceptional in one of the two games he played for Gloucester at outside centre and it was unfortunate he got injured when we put him in against Samoa.

"We are trying to get a consistency of performance and that will come about with consistency of selection. Until then we will continue to tweak things."

Lydon took great delight from the performances of fly-half Charlie Hodgson, who he believes has discovered new levels of self-belief after his displays on the Lions tour to New Zealand.

"I thought Charlie came of age on that tour," he added. "He wasn't sure he would get selected but he proved to himself he could mix it with the best - not just the opposition but his peers around him in the Lions squad.

Review of the autumn Tests

"He came away from it with a great amount of credit and I think that was a big factor in him stepping up to the mark and saying 'I am here on merit'."

Despite Hodgson's impressive form, Lydon expects Jonny Wilkinson to return to the squad if he recovers full fitness and form in the new year.

But he refused to speculate on whether the two could both be accommodated, with suggestions Wilkinson could play at inside centre.

"To have two world-class players like that in the squad would be a great asset for us," added former rugby league international Lydon. "It would be a headache, but one I would relish.

"But let's get Jonny back and fully fit first. He has had a horrendous run of bad luck but he is still a world-class player.