TOP scorer Martin Paul believes the Bluebirds' tried and tested style of play is starving both him and strike partner Adie Mings of goalscoring opportunities at Hardenhuish Park.

The former Bristol Rovers man endured another frustrating afternoon on home soil at the weekend and did not have a sniff of goal as visitors Halesowen ran out 2-1 winners.

Paul is the Premier Division's joint top marksman with 15 goals this season, but has not netted a league goal at home since a brace against Hinckley on October 19.

But he stressed that, unless he is presented with the chances to score, his lean spell at Hardenhuish will continue. He said: "You could put Thierry Henry and Alan Shearer up front in our team, but we still wouldn't score more than one goal at home.

"I haven't had a chance on Saturday. I had two chances against Stafford the week before and the keeper has done well to save both.

"With Mingsy, his first chance was 20 yards out and there were four people between him and the goal. His second one just went wide. We're not missing one-on-ones, free headers or free shots."

While the Bluebirds' defensive record is the third best in the division, they have failed to score more than once in a home game since the turn of the year.

Paul is happy with the results produced by Tommy Saunders' tactics this season, but believes the strikers are not to blame for a lack of goals.

He said: "We are looking to play pressure football, which is what we have played all season and it has done tremendously well for us.

"You put the ball into the corners, try to pick up the second ball and then deliver it into the box. But we don't have any width and we haven't had any width all season.

"That's the end of it really. We don't get crosses into the box. Our full backs are tremendous defensively, but at this level they won't be attacking full backs as well.

"We have relied on sneaking the odd goal for a long time and it has nothing to do with anybody missing chances. It is all about us not creating chances as a team. We haven't done all season.

"If we were a more expansive team, we would have lost more than four games this season. You can't have it both ways."

Paul felt Chippenham had deserved at least a draw from Saturday's encounter, but dismissed the notion that Halesowen had sprung a surprise by taking the spoils.

He said: "I thought we were the better team for the majority of the game and we haven't got the points. There have been games this season where we haven't deserved to win and we have. It evens itself out.

"They beat us last week and then went to Dover and won 3-0. It isn't a shock result because they are no mugs.

"With the exception of Ilkeston, who have been a poor team this year, there are no easy games in this league."

He feels Wayne Thorne and Tom Gould should not be made to suffer after their respective mistakes led to the two Halesowen goals.

Said Paul: "Thorney has had a tremendous season. In my opinion, I don't think there will be anyone other than Thorney or Gouldy who will be voted for when we choose our players' player of the year."