CHESTER CITY will step up their bid to sign a new forward today, with the club's striking positions looking even more threadbare after leading scorer Michael Branch limped out of Friday's match at Southend United after only 15 minutes.
Branch suffered a hamstring injury at Roots Hall and must be considered doubtful for at least part of Chester's four-match festive programme.
However, more alarmingly, City have not registered more than one goal in any of their last seven league outings, which has also coincided with a winless Coca-Cola League Two run.
Chester have recently had two offers for the Yeovil Town striker, Phil Jevons, turned down, so they will now turn their attentions to other possible targets this week.
City chairman Stephen Vaughan said last night: "I spoke to Ian Rush following the Southend game, and we will intensify our search for strikers. "It may be that we offer certain players from our squad plus cash if any deal is to be secured.
"But one thing is for sure, we need to move smartly this week."
Chester's next match is on Boxing Day when they entertain the runaway leaders Scunthorpe United, who lead the division by seven points.
With Darryn Stamp injured and Branch doubtful, City's only options are youngsters Cortez Belle and Sean Whalley, neither of whom are experienced, nor prolific marksmen.
A goal two minutes from the end of Friday night's game at Southend, by substitute Laurie Dudfield, condemned City to a 1-0 defeat, with City manager Rush rueing his side's luck. "I thought we deserved a point," he said.
"We played a million times better than we did against Shrewsbury last week, when we finished up getting a point we did not deserve.
"This time we go away with nothing, but that is football."
