DON'T worry lads - your jobs are safe at Portman Road.Blues boss Jim Magilton admitted his threat to ship out half his squad in January was said in a fit of pique - and he loves them really.

By Derek Davis

DON'T worry lads - your jobs are safe at Portman Road.

Blues boss Jim Magilton admitted his threat to ship out half his squad in January was said in a fit of pique - and he loves them really.

It was understandable that Magilton should react as furiously as he did in the immediate aftermath of the 3-1 defeat at Charlton.

The woeful first half performance, when they went three goals down, was still very fresh in his mind.

But a much-improved second half performance, followed by a 3-1 win over Leicester on Tuesday, has placated the passionate Irishman.

On the eve of the home game with Scunthorpe, and the chance of a 15th unbeaten game at home putting his team in with a chance of a play-off place, Magilton said: “We all make comments in times like that. It was a really poor first half and I was very disappointed but they showed the right sort of reaction in the second half.

“This group of players have done fantastic for me. Because of the speculation people think there are going to be wholesale changes in January but there are not. We are sitting seventh in the table with the second half of the season to go.

“When has a pacesetter ever won the marathon? It is about maintaining a level over 46 games and all we have ever said is that if a quality player comes along then we will get them and money or no money that remains the case.

“These lads have stepped up and put us in that position and they deserve plenty of praise. We want more of the same for the second half of the season and we have the belief to go on.”

The Blues take on a Scunthorpe side at Portman Road today that has not won in nine games although their last two victories were away from home - at Sheffield Wednesday and Colchester United.

Magilton said: “Scunthorpe at home gives us the opportunity to maintain this home run.

“They will come here and relish the opportunity of playing here. Their players will have a real go at us and if we are not right, we will be punished.

“They have their own way of winning a game of football, as we have, and we want to keep our record.

“Scunthorpe have had a good start but have found the Championship a new level.”

With The Iron not expected to bring the full allocation of 1,500 supporters and the game being so near Christmas, it is expected that Portman Road will only be two-thirds full after fewer than 18,000 watched the win over Leicester on Tuesday.

Magilton said: “We have had 13 wins and one draw so what more could we do, apart from the two points dropped against Barnsley?

“All we can do is our very best for those that do come here.”