IPSWICH Town defender Damien Delaney today backed the club's strikers.

Elvin King

IPSWICH Town defender Damien Delaney today backed the club's strikers.

“We are all capable of chipping in with goals and we must take collective blame,” said Delaney.

The Blues find themselves four points off safety, with tough away games at Cardiff and Bristol City coming up, following their inability to find the net in Saturday's goalless Championship game against Sheffield Wednesday.

Despite having conceded just four goals in six games since goalkeeper Asmir Begovic arrived on loan from Portsmouth, Ipswich have pocketed just eight points.

They have managed just five goals since Begovic's arrival and only 17 in 17 league matches.

“I say it a bit gingerly, but we have sorted out our defensive problems,” added Delaney.

“We are looking much more solid at the back and now we must work hard on our finishing and patterns of play to create more chances.

“It is a collective issue. Our front men are in the firing line and have the most pressure but, the same as you defend from the front, you attack from the back.

“There is perhaps a little lack of confidence up front, but Tamas Priskin shouldn't take the blame for our failure to score on Saturday.”

Town boss Roy Keane used Priskin and Lee Martin up front, but this �3.7million of recent arrivals were unable to bother the visitors.

Despite the frustrations of Saturday, Delaney remains positive, having looked to have established himself in the left-sided central defensive position.

He added: “Saturday was another one that got away, as a win would have come just at the right time. But we are pointing in the right direction.”

Delaney's defensive partner Alex Bruce went off with a groin problem, believed to be the recurrence of the injury he first suffered against Newcastle on September 26. He is likely to be a doubt for Sunday's game at Cardiff.