Boss John Gregory has made signing a striker his top priority after seeing Crawley’s goal-drought continue.

Reds failed to score for the fifth league game this season as they went down 2-0 at Preston on Saturday.

Crawley have managed the fewest goals in League One – four in nine matches - and Gregory is aware he must rectify the problem quickly.

He said: “We know we have a problem scoring goals and that side of our game certainly needs to improve.

“There were good individual performances (on Saturday) but we lack a real cutting edge to the team and we need to sort that out very, very quickly.

“It is not necessarily something which can be put right on the training ground. I possibly haven’t quite got the right personnel.

“It is time to have another good look at it and possibly bring in somebody who can make a difference. That is obviously a priority.”

Gregory is aware that finding a reliable goalscorer who is available now the transfer window is closed will be challenging.

Gregory added: “It’s tough because there tends not to be too many around who are not playing already.

“I’ve been able to find midfielders but you tend not to find goalscorers as clubs don’t want to let them go out (on loan).”