BLUES skipper Jason De Vos wants the defence to help out more with the goalscoring duties until a new striker is found.Ipswich boss Jim Magilton has been linked with a number of strikers since Jon Macken returned to Crystal Palace after his loan spell and is not likely to return.

By Derek Davis

BLUES skipper Jason De Vos wants the defence to help out more with the goalscoring duties until a new striker is found.

Ipswich boss Jim Magilton has been linked with a number of strikers since Jon Macken returned to Crystal Palace after his loan spell and is not likely to return.

Andy Bishop, Leon Constantine, and Chris Short have all been tracked by Town, with Scot Robbie Winters from Lillestrom the latest goal-getter to be linked with Town, although Sheffield Wednesday and Oldham may have the edge.

De Vos believes a new hit-man would be a tremendous boost for the Blues but feels he can help ease the burden of the front line.

He said: “It is a horrible position to be in as a striker when you are carrying all that weight of expectancy but we have to bear the brunt as a team and work on that, with defenders chipping in.

“We are not happy with the amount of goals we have got at the back either.”

A David Connolly goal gave Sunderland the win.

De Vos added: “It was a real kick in the teeth to come away with nothing.

“We dominated for long periods of the game but we need to be more clinical in the final third of the pitch. If we are not going to score from open play then we need to score from set plays. We had chances to do that and didn't.”