Blues boss Paul Hurst says he’s not concerned by Town’s lack of goals and currently isn’t considering switching to two strikers.

So far Hurst’s side have scored only three times in their first four Championship matches, just one of those in their last three. In addition, Kayden Jackson, the only striker to score so far this season, netted in the on-penalties Carabao Cup defeat at Exeter.

Asked whether the dearth of goals worries him, Hurst responded: “No, and the reason being Derby scored two goals with two shots, two deflected shots. Are they going to be concerned about their goals? I’d say maybe not.

“We want to score goals, of course we do. It can be misleading but we have had more attempts in the games than the opposition in the last four games [in all competitions]. I’m not sure about the Blackburn game, I think we may have been even in that.

“So that side of it is positive. The negative is converting some of those chances. We could have a million shots but if they’re all hitting the fans in the stand, it counts for nothing.

“But at the same time, in a lot of the games that I’ve watched and when you look at data from games, I’m not sure that there are as many attempts at goal as sometimes people think.

“But if one goes in the net that’s then forgotten about. We need to score a goal to win a game, of course. Hopefully we can do that at Hillsborough on Saturday.”

He says he’s happy with his system which has seen Ellis Harrison, whose only Blues goal came in the pre-season friendly against West Ham, up front on his own in all four Championship matches while Jackson filled that role at Exeter, and isn’t considering a switch to a two-man attack.

“I’m not saying it won’t be the way always and there might be at a time where we do look at that and it might seem that it suits us better,” he added.

“But at the minute I don’t think personally there’s a reason to particularly change. When’s all said and done we’ve only got two real out and out strikers at the club at the minute.

“If you start as 4-4-2, and maybe Freddie Sears would come in as an option to do that and one or two others potentially, but not just simply strikers, and I think a lot of the other play has been pretty good, in all honesty.

“But, as I say, we do need to make sure that we’re getting bodies forward in the box and when we get there we’ve got to try and work the keeper.

“That was the frustration having watched the Derby game back in the cold light of day. A lot of people said there was nothing in the game and on the night I was thinking maybe Derby, although they did have most possession, were more threatening than they actually were.

“Maybe that’s just the nature of being involved in it and hoping that they’re not going to score.

“But we were well in the game. It was some final little passes and really taking care of the ball when situations arose that resulted in us maybe not having an attempt at goal.

“That’s certainly something that can be better rather than particularly just having two strikers on the pitch or things like that.

“We all get obsessed with systems. I’ve done it before, played with two strikers up front and gone through spells when you don’t score.

“What do you do then? Three on? Four on? I think at the minute it’s too early to really start worrying about.”

Photo: TWTD

Popeye added 23:13 - Aug 23 If you look back through history, most Town sides regardless of who the manager was have played with two up front
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LondonBlue73 added 23:27 - Aug 23 Everybody moaning needs to calm down. All things new take time to settle and if we change direction every time things do not go to plan then we will go round in circles. A lot of new players and a change of system will take two to three months to come to fruition and a manager that is honest (appears so anyway) and sticks to his convictions will breed trust and belief. I have been more entertained this season than I have in the last few and believe signs are encouraging. As others say a Winnie vital, scoring forwards is a must but let's give it time. As for those asking when one up front works - really ? Tottenham, Chelsea at times with Drogba, Barcelona under Pep (at times with no out and out striker). Most team now play 1 striker and one off. I think the key here is perhaps the midfield and Nolan not playing advanced enough but again I believe this will develop. Stay positive and support the team.

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Radlett_blue added 23:33 - Aug 23 Sorry Paul - I have faith in you as a manager but if you think converting non-existent chances is our main problem, you are barking up the wrong tree.
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Bezzer added 07:10 - Aug 24 Another stubborn Manager! Based on PH's formation, unless we get injuries, we have enough strikers at the club! Problem is, he can't see Harrison is not good enough on his own. There are not that many good championship standard loan players out there and once again we struggle to bring someone in quickly before other clubs pounce. We should be looking to bring in players like Rajiv van la Parra; Yannick Bolasie; Tammy Abraham; Patrick Roberts; Dominic Solanke; Nedum Onuoha Tyrone Mings etc...instead we pursue unproven players at this level (e.g Tilt). Mark my words, Saturday will not yield 3 points and we'll still be having the same conversation, which to be honest, is no different to the past 10+ years!!

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tractorboybig added 07:18 - Aug 24 give it till Christmas need to gel!!!!!!!
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Bezzer added 07:24 - Aug 24 We could be 10+ points adrift by Christmas! Bring in Glen Hoddle to steady the ship and help attract some decent premiership loanee's.
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tractorboybig added 07:35 - Aug 24 bezzer it was tongue in cheek..
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Bezzer added 07:56 - Aug 24 👍👍 Tractorboybig...unfortunately we have supporters who really do think we can leave it until Christmas 😬🤦‍♂️
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cat added 08:09 - Aug 24 ArnieM spot on, that's precisely how it should work. We called for entertainment and PH fresh approach and system should deliver that, but it's a massive change from last season park the bus mentality.. He knows what he wants and has brought players in to suit. I hope he keeps his bottle and it comes good.
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tractorrollson added 08:13 - Aug 24 It is early days yes but its scary how we just cant hit the net and im genuinely concerned about the norwich game as we may get mullered!
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Woodbridgian added 08:24 - Aug 24 We won't be able to judge anything until we've played at least 10 games but the lack of goals so far must be a worrying. Had the AV keeper not dropped the ball we wouldn't even of scored against them. We need an experienced Championship stricker in onloqn imo if only till January. Such a shame Wells has gone to QPR
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bluerico added 09:44 - Aug 24 Think we missed a trick in not signing either Hemed or Wells on loan. Both proven goalscorers at this level.
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JewellintheTown added 09:49 - Aug 24 PH: "We could have a million shots but if they're all hitting the fans in the stand, it counts for nothing." I'd pay good money to see some of the so called "fans" on here on the receiving end of those. Maybe we should put those "fans" behind the goal mouth. Win, win.
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Razor added 10:11 - Aug 24 I know its early but is it OK to express a little cocern and worry or will the NP be after us!?
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TR11BLU added 10:22 - Aug 24 So many so called experts on here saying 1 up does not work . Maybe its the lack of support getting forward. Leeds are doing OK, 1 up, Derby, 1 up and Villa too? Try supporting the manager, team and project.
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midastouch added 10:29 - Aug 24 I think we should push the boat out on one top quality loan signing. The sort of player we couldn't afford to sign on a permanent that could give us some much needed spark. Mick pulled some great rabbits out of the hat in that department like Fraser and Lawrence, those made a massive difference. I'll certainly credit him there. I think Celina could of had greater impact if used more too but he still won us a few extra vital points during his appearances. We need a match winner that can pull that big of magic out in a tight game and convert 1 point into 3 or even 0 points into 1! Come the end of the season those extra points could well make the difference between relegation or not. Compare the cost of the wages to the cost of relegation and I think it's safe to say it's well worth spending the money now in hope of securing our safety with a top-class player that can unlock opposition teams.

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Swn98 added 11:10 - Aug 24 I seem to remember last season posters commented on many occasions about MM keep trying the same system hoping to get a different result! you've got what you wished for wonder if we will survive it.
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TimmyH added 11:41 - Aug 24 Never 'too early' to start to worry if your not scoring but will stick with Hurst with his ideas, methods and tactics for the foreseeable, hopefully with the first win might springboard us somewhat.
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Cheshire_Blue added 12:32 - Aug 24 Yes, regretfully MM is no longer with us. Few goals and even fewer points and it is clear where we are heading. I just hope I am wrong. It is likely the vociferous minority who hounded MM out may live to regret it. TIME WILL TELL.
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Dissboyitfc added 18:19 - Aug 24 CheshireBlue.... you hope you are wrong, really? You love it when things go wrong, it makes your day! Not really a town supporter at all are you! And yes time will tell!!!
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Swn98 added 19:57 - Aug 24 The same as you had your views about Mick ,please let others have their views about Hurst there's a good fella
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warktheline added 21:51 - Aug 24 Someone mentioned it earlier in week, ( certainly wasn't swn 😂 ) playing one up top requires creativity from midfield, something I totally agree with. The big question is will Bishop, Huws, and Dozzell step up this season with performances and game time ( injury free ). If not, Hurst may need to act quickly. I know Skuse has his critics ( often myself ) but with the 'creative midfield' i believe he would prosper.

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Dog added 01:21 - Aug 25 PH is having a nightmare. Boring, dull, uncharismatic. Did anyone see his interview on soccer saturday on the opening day. His football is dull ( only slightly better than last season). Nolan loves to pass sideways. Edwards needs to do it for a whole game. The strikers fire more blanks than Boycie. I admire all the fans who bought a season ticket on the basis that MM had left but the simple upshot is ME has asset stripped our club to the tune of 7 million (2 miilion in sponsorship money that was not reinvested) and left us with a far poorer side than any recent town side. The Derby game was utter garbage. I have no idea what PH was watching but we were never in it. Slow, no creativity, ball in air. Just dreadful. Who the hell is he trying to kid???. Tomorrows game is going to be a nightmare. I will happily bet that we have three or less shots on target.

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KiwiTractor added 02:53 - Aug 25 I think you will find that Sears is an out and out striker too, maybe not a great one - but he certainly isn't a winger......
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Dissboyitfc added 08:43 - Aug 25 swn98... its not about opinions on whether anybody preferred MM or PH! Its very sad to see so called supporters pleased if we lose, so they can say, " Be careful what you wish for" Its wrong and these people are not Supporters of itfc!
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