A TOUCH of Dutch courage up front was not enough to end Town's goal drought.

Antoine van der Linden made his first start as a striker for Town but could not celebrate the occasion with a goal.

"I thought I was alright and I enjoyed playing with Kyle but we didn't score any goals," he said.

"They got the only goal with a great strike which puts us right back in the danger zone.

"As a striker you have to be inventive and I tried to create the chances and the situations where I could score. I would have liked to have done better with the chances I had, but it wasn't meant to be."

Andy King has said it is a poor reflection on the club that he is having to play defenders as strikers but the Dutchman does not see it as a desperate measure.

Although signed in the summer as a central defender, he has played in a variety of roles since he was old enough to start kicking a football.

"I have played as a forward, a winger and a left back so I am not just a central defender," he said.

Van der Linden said Town's inability to create anything for the front men was one of the main areas for debate during a post match 'discussion' between manager and players.

The Dutchman said he was well aware of Kyle Lightbourne's capabilities having watched him in action for Stoke during the Potters' 3-0 win in November and had no doubt he would be a hit.

"We will be working hard to try and get it right. If you are a good squad then you will always want to improve," he said.

"I know he is a good player and he didn't disappoint me. Let's hope he can nick a few goals for us in the next couple of weeks."