FELLOW striker Sam Parkin felt for Ipswich Town front man Nicky Forster during the game at Portman Road yesterday.Forster played up front on his own in the 2-0 defeat by Crystal Palace that turned Boxing Day into a nightmare for Ipswich supporters.

By Elvin King

FELLOW striker Sam Parkin felt for Ipswich Town front man Nicky Forster during the game at Portman Road yesterday.

Forster played up front on his own in the 2-0 defeat by Crystal Palace that turned Boxing Day into a nightmare for Ipswich supporters.

Parkin, who expects to have the special covering removed from his broken right ankle this week, said: “I have been there myself against Reading earlier this season.

“Against two big Palace defenders, who would have run through a brick wall if necessary, it was not easy for Nicky.”

And Town's acting skipper Jason De Vos admitted that the team is lacking a cutting edge up front.

The Canadian international, who will be 32 next Tuesday, said: “We are lacking that edge up front at the moment.

“Our threats are coming from set-pieces; last season we knew that we had goals in us and if we went behind we had the ability to come back - this season it's much more difficult.

“The major difference between the two teams was that Palace took their chances and we didn't.”

De Vos went on: “Sometimes things go like they are for us this season but you show your character when things are going badly rather than when they are going well.

“It is frustrating. We were unlucky to go in 1-0 down and had we scored in the first-half things could have been very different.

“Their second goal came from out of the blue and it killed us. They are a very good side and all their players were playing in the Premiership last season. You just need to look at the strength on their bench.

“Having said that, we matched them for large parts of the game. We probably didn't get out of the blocks quickly enough.

“We can't dwell on this result though; games come thick and fast at this time of the year and we've now got to think about our match against Hull.

“We've got to pick ourselves up and go at them - which we did for large parts of the game against Palace. We will be positive against Hull and look to get the three points.”

Gavin Williams said: “It appears to be a trend for us to go behind at home. It must be our resolution now to take more command and to start matches stronger than we are now.”