Hm... try a 4-2-2-2 formation. One anchor man, one DM, one supporting CM, one attacking CM. One DLF, one Adv. Forward. Rigid, defensive, less expressive, stand-off, aggressive tackling, less roaming.
Don't know whether it'll work, but it's worth a try.
Your focus must be not to concede, rather than to score. Keeping a good home record is essential. So you might want a defensive midfielder as cover for your inevitably weak back 4, and I'd probably only play a loan striker up front, if he is good enough to fashion chances for himself. A target man would be suitable.