IAN Westlake last night welcomed the impending arrival of striker Alan Lee and is convinced a proven finisher will be the catalyst to a change in fortunes.

By Derek Davis

IAN Westlake last night welcomed the impending arrival of striker Alan Lee and is convinced a proven finisher will be the catalyst to a change in fortunes.

Westlake has been among the catalogue of injuries that has hampered the Blues this season and sees new signings as a real boost to the Blues' chances of moving into the play-off places.

He said: “It is brilliant for the club. The more players that come in the better it is. There is already competition in midfield and we need competition all over the park.”

Westlake was part of a midfield that caused Portsmouth problems before going out of the FA Cup to a Dario Silva goal.

He said: “We played really well at times, got the ball down well and moved it around.

“We had a couple of chances but didn't take them, whereas Pompey only had two shots and scored with one of them.

“We don't have a problem with confidence, and we keep playing well, so we knew we could match a Premiership side. It is scoring the chances we are creating that is the problem.

“We hit a post and then Gavin Williams had a chance, which he hit too well really, and it went just past a post. It just would not go in for us.”

Westlake believes Town can take their recent good form, and, hopefully, a new striker, into their Championship clash with second-placed Sheffield United on Saturday and secure the points.

He said: “There is no game in the Championship that we don't think we can go and win - especially at home.

“We can play better football than most of the sides in this division, it is just about scoring the goals that we did last year that put us into the top two.

“Hopefully, that will come now and we can climb up the table.”

The former Academy star has also welcomed Scott Barron's emergence at left-back but is not surprised at how well the 20-year-old has progressed.

He said: “Scott has done really well. He has always been a good player but had a bad year with his double hernia operation. But he is back now and, after proving himself in the reserves, he has come in and taken his chance in the first team, so I'm really delighted for him.”