What about your formation? I would suggest you a 4-5-1 V-Style, these orders:
Defending/Normal
Down both flanks
Own half
Hard tackling (make sure your defenders are well "conditioned", at least 90%) or Normal
mixed pass
Zonal
Counter Attack on

Try also motivate DL/R (red) and DMC (red if you want support your midline, blue if you would a more defending line)
so far it worked for me...