Magilton fires warning to players

By Derek Davis

BLUES boss Jim Magilton has told his players to buck up or miss out on the big time.

Town battled for a hard-earned point at Southampton in front of 2,818 of their own travelling support but missed chances cost them all three points.

Magilton said: “Our quality with the ball was not where I want it to be. We still have work to do and if we have aspirations of playing at the highest level then we need to be better.

“If we give the ball away as cheaply as we did again we will be punished.”

Town went behind to a Stern John goal before David Norris equalised with his first goal since signing from Plymouth in January.

Magilton said: “It was a poor goal for us to give away and we should have been better. We were sloppy with a pass and didn't clear the lines.

“Southampton were a good side they are just low on confidence so we will take the point.”

Magilton was disappointed with missed chances, with Alan Lee, Norris and Pablo Counago missing out while Danny Haynes failed to pick out two unmarked Town players during a counter attack.

Magilton said: “We worked very hard for the point if we had come away with nothing I would have been very disappointed.

“We had a couple of chances to win it but we showed out naivety.

“In fairness to Danny he is the only player we have at the club with the pace to get into that position but we just wanted him to show a bit more composure as the cavalry were arriving and there were a couple who could have, should have, would have finished it and won the won.

“But he is a young lad still learning the game and we have high hopes for him but if he wants to play at the highest level he needs that bit more composure and quality.”

“If David Norris had been a bit brighter he might have scored and Pablo might have put a chance in.”