York City boss Neil Thompson was today stepping up his bid to bring more firepower to Bootham Crescent after watching his shot-shy side fight out a goalless draw with Peterborough.

HEAD OVER HEELS: Peterborough goalkeeper Mark Tyler spins through the air as he grabs the ball off the bootlaces of City midfielder Mark Atkins during the 0-0 draw at Bootham Crescent

Thompson, admitting a sharp shooter is desperately needed, is believed to be homing in on a First Division striker with a view to a loan deal.

For while City were able to avoid their fifth straight defeat in the league and so climb one place to 22nd it is a lack of a cutting edge up front that is proving City's nemesis.

It was another solid show by City's backline, and no one could fault the team's commitment to the cause.

But while targetman Barry Conlon, returning from international duty with the Republic of Ireland Under-21s, was ever-willing he was never scoring - a 25-yard free-kick that cannoned back of the Posh post aside.

The out of sorts John Williams fared even worse and was hauled off at half-time, replaced by Rodney Rowe who certainly looked more menacing but failed to muster an attempt on target.

City have not savoured a goal for more than 320 minutes now, failed to score in six of their nine games so far and three of the five goals registered came in the 6-3 defeat at Barnet.

"We are not scoring enough goals that is for sure," railed the City boss. "We had a look at a couple of people last week but they didn't come off so we will try again. It is quite obvious we need a cutting edge up front.

"We need goals and we do not look as if we are going to score at the moment - certainly not a bucketful anyway.

"We looked reasonably solid but I want more from my strikers who have to fight to get hold of the ball and then keep it. It is something we are going to have to look at.

"You ask our centre-halves how difficult it was for them against their strikers who worked very hard and fought for everything - that is what I want us to do.

"I thought the ball went up front and came back too quickly. We cannot keep a clean sheet every week to get a result."

Thompson was again full of praise for his defence, in particular recent signing Mark Sertori and stalwart Wayne Hall.

"I though Sertori did well and I thought Wayne Hall was outstanding.

"His attitude has been superb after I left him out at the end of last season.

"He has taken the bull by the horns and players like him are worth their weight in gold - you know what you are going to get out of him."

There was praise too for Martin Garratt, a first half replacement for Thompson, who was taken after the calf muscle injury that kept him out of City's early encounters flared-up again.

"I thought Martin took his chance well," said Thompson, who also had to withdraw fellow full-back Matt Hocking with an ankle injury.

Posh manager Barry Fry, while also lamenting his side's inability to find the back of the net, believes City are just lacking a slice of luck.

"We should have won the game and we should have been 2-0 up at half-time but we have only got ourselves to blame.

"They (City) have got a lot of experienced players in their squad now but when you are in a bad run then free-kicks hitting the posts tend to happen.

"They just need that bit of luck and knowing Thommo he will rally the troops and get them going before long."

Red-card protesters consider next move

Protesting York City fans today refused to rule out further action after giving club chairman Douglas Craig the red-card treatment during the Minstermen's goalless draw with Peterborough on Saturday.

The Independent YCFC Supporters group carried out their threat to red-card Craig in protest at what they perceive is a lack of ambition at the club, currently floundering near the bottom of Division Three.

Their decision to press-ahead with the demonstration was made despite Craig expressing a willingness to meet the fans to discuss their concerns.

Red flyers calling for Craig to quit were handed out to fans as they made their way into Bootham Crescent and were brandished at half-time by a sizeable section of supporters gathered in theDavid Longhurst Stand at the Shipton Street end of the ground.

Shouts of "Craig out" erupted as soon as the whistle for half-time was blown and were heard again, briefly, when the teams retook the field and at full time. Some of the chanting was abusive.

Craig declined to comment on the protest today but the Independent YCFC Supporters group spokesman, Greg Stone, refused to rule out further action.Stone claimed the response from supporters had been "terrific".

"Our only regret is that we didn't have more leaflets printed to hand out," he said.

"Many people came to us and thanked us for mounting this campaign, saying that a protest was long overdue.

"Things must change for the better and very quickly."There were no reports of any trouble or arrests at the ground, according to York Police.

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