BLUES boss Jim Magilton believes all his hard work is finally paying off as his team begin to show the attitude he has been trying to instil. It may have been a makeshift side but players grabbing their second chance ensured a hard-earned point at play-off challengers Stoke City last night.

By Derek Davis

BLUES boss Jim Magilton believes all his hard work is finally paying off as his team begin to show the attitude he has been trying to instil.

It may have been a makeshift side but players grabbing their second chance ensured a hard-earned point at play-off challengers Stoke City last night.

Magilton said: “This is not a miracle it is down to hard work. It is down to hard graft.

“Those lads who were left out at the beginning have now seen what the end product can be. Those new players who have come in have brought a different attitude.

“Change doesn't happen overnight and it has not transformed the whole place yet.”

Town captured their fifth clean sheet in seven games this year and Magilton hailed the all-round defensive effort.

He said: “We came with a patched-up back four which were outstanding.

“We came with a game plan and it worked a treat for us. I'm extremely proud of them. To a man they were immense. To come away with a point from here is incredible.

“They put themselves on the line to get a point and they should be proud of that.”

And he joked: “Getting a point here and making the fifth round of the FA Cup - I should retire now.”

Stoke manager Tony Pulis said: “If Ricardo had scored early on it might have been different. For all our good play it was our keeper who made the best save of the night.”