GOING back to basics has worked wonders – now it’s time to take things to the next level.

Ipswich Town became the first team in 26 matches to stop Cardiff City scoring on Saturday when they more than matched the Championship table-toppers in a highly-credible goalless draw.

Mick McCarthy has instilled an ethic of hard work and organisation into a side which had previously looked so fragile defensively.

And now the Blues boss – having signed three new strikers this month – will look to add some creativity to his side before the end of the January transfer window, with Colchester United’s Anthony Wordsworth and Watford’s Mark Yeates understood to be top targets.

“First and foremost I want us to be organised and hard to beat,” said McCarthy. “It might sound very simplistic and it is.

“If we can add some quality to it with that final pass, final cross and finishing then we’ll be a better team.”

With Nigel Reo-Coker having rejected a contract extension until the end of the season in favour of finding a longer-term deal elsewhere, a central midfielder is needed to provide competition to Guirane N’Daw, Luke Hyam and Andy Drury.

And with Carlos Edwards and Lee Martin in the final six months of their deals, wingers will be high on the wanted list.

Wordsworth will be available in a cut-price deal as he is now in the final six months of his contract at The Weston Homes Community Stadium. The 24-year-old set-piece specialist can play wide left or through the middle.

U’s owner Robbie Cowling said yesterday that no firm offers had been received for the player, but manager Joe Dunne has recently said he would be surprised if he could keep hold of his prized asset.

Yeates – a former Colchester player himself – has also been linked, with Hornets boss Gianfranco Zola admitting there has been in interest in the 28-year-old Irishman. Capable of playing on either wing, he is another player who is heading towards the end of his contract.

– Join Ipswich Town writers Stuart Watson and Dave Gooderham for a live webchat at 1pm today.