Lee becomes eighth injured striker

By Derek Davis

IPSWICH Town's injury curse struck again last night after in-form striker Alan Lee limped off with a hamstring problem after scoring in the win at Crewe.

But the Blues found an instant hero in Dean McDonald, who went on as a substitute to bag the winner with his first Ipswich Town goal.

Steve Jones had given Crewe the lead before Lee equalised and McDonald turned match-winner as Ipswich came from behind for the third game in a row to win.

The 27-year-old, who has hit four goals in his six games since signing for the Blues, became the EIGHTH striker to be stricken this season, when he went off at Gresty Road.

Blues boss Joe Royle said: “Alan has been suffering from a tight hamstring for a couple of games and we are hoping it is more a cramp than anything more serious, like a pull.

“I can't believe how unlucky we have been with injuries but hopefully this is not too serious, although it is unlikely Alan will be fit for Wolves on Saturday.”

Town also lost defender Fabian Wilnis to a rib injury and he will be checked today to see how much damage he has suffered but is also a big doubt for Saturday.

Despite the double blow, Royle was delighted with his side's performance and with substitute McDonald.

He said: “Dean is a strong boy and we knew he has something but he had not had an end product. Now he has got a goal and we hope he can go on from there.

“It was a great win for us and we know we still have an awful lot to do to get to the play-offs but all we can do is keep on winning. I would just like us to get through a game without an injury.

“We were slow starting but after they scored Crewe hardly saw the ball again and we played very well. Our keeper had to be on his toes at times but really he has not had a save to make.”

Lee joins an incredible list of unfortunates who have been struck down this season with Sam Parkin, Nicky Forster, Danny Haynes, Adam Proudlock, Billy Clarke, Daryl Knights and Dean Bowditch, all falling foul of the curse this season.

The former Burnley and Rotherham hit man, who also plied his trade down the road from Crewe at Port Vale, suffered a horrendous catalogue of injuries while at Cardiff with two knee operations and a groin operation, but he must have thought his luck had turned for the better after joining the Blues and making such an immediate impact.