NEIL Lennon believes finding that creative spark going forward could be the key to ending Wanderers' away-day hoodoo at Ipswich Town tonight.

The Whites drew a blank in front of goal for the eighth time in 14 Championship matches this term.

And the manager concedes they are missing their more inventive players at times as they battle to get motoring in attack.

But with Max Clayton returning to the fold at Preston on Saturday and Mark Davies possibly in contention at Portman Road, Lennon is confident his team can find a way to get the supply line to the forwards moving.

The Whites boss told The Bolton News: "At Preston we had Clough and Davies out and Wellington so you miss that wee bit of spark.

"That’s the reason we brought Wellington in and of course Zach is an excellent player.

"We haven’t got the biggest squad in the world.

"It’s difficult replacing players like for like but we try our best.

"We were pleased with Max Clayton on Saturday – that’s his first 90 minutes.

"He did very, very well and is going to be an asset for us going forward.

"(Gary) Madine came on and could have won us the game.

"He did well for the 15 to 20 minutes he was on.

"We needed a little bit more creativity at times but we are not always going to get that with the players we have missing."

Having forward players sidelined has opened up opportunities for others and young attacker Kaiyne Woolery was back on the bench on Saturday after an impressive hat-trick for the Under-21s at Leeds a week ago.

Lennon handed the former Tamworth striker a debut at the back end of last season and is pleased with his progress.

"Kaiyne is in our thoughts," said the Wanderers manager.

"He’s improving. He’s has done very well and worked hard at his game.

"He has real genuine pace, which is always an asset at any level.

"There are aspects of his game he needs to work on but we are very pleased with the way he is coming on and he deserves to be in the squad."

While the attacking quandary continues for Lennon, he was pleased with his back line as they earned a first clean sheet in seven league outings at Deepdale.

The return of Prince-Desire Gouano from suspension at Ipswich could see the defence rotated but two players sure to be involved are David Wheater and Jose Manuel Casado – the pair impressing the manager again at Preston.

And he says while they have played better as a team this season, the effort of his squad could not be questioned.

Lennon added: "Casado has come in and been absolutely excellent.

"Despite Dean Moxey having a really good start to the season, Casado has come in and filled those boots very well.

"We feel he has made us better and as we go on and he gets more acclimatised to the English game, he will improve again.

"I think he’s a very good player.

"Prince will obviously come back in.

"But we were really pleased with a clean sheet away from home on Saturday.

"The defenders have been resolute – particularly the two centre-halves.

"Wheater, in particular, was superb at Preston.

"So we are very pleased with the defensive aspect of the game and the way the players worked very hard.

"It will also give Ben (Amos) a boost in his confidence.

"I’d like us to play better overall but I can’t have everything all the time

"There are aspects of the game we can improve on but I can’t look for it to be perfect all the time.

"If the players give me their best on a particular night then that’s what you ask for as a manager.

"The clean sheet gives everyone a boost.

"I thought we could have won and should have won.

"When you watch the loop on Sky Sports News, all the chances shown are ours – that is very pleasing.

"We didn’t play as well as we did at Burnley when we lost but that’s the way football is at times.

"While I was pleased with a point I was disappointed with the overall manner of the performance, while at Burnley I was delighted with the performance and not the result.

"So if we can get the result and performance tonight (at Ipswich) then I will be over the moon.

"We are striving very hard and the players are giving me everything.

"There are times when they won’t play how I want them to or the way everyone would like to see it.

"But they have played well in a lot of games and got nothing."