BLUES boss Jim Magilton insists he has too many players past their sell-by date and is stepping up his hunt for new talent.

Derek Davis

BLUES boss Jim Magilton insists he has too many players past their sell-by date and is stepping up his hunt for new talent.

Magilton was livid with his side's poor showing in their second home league defeat in a row and is desperately seeking better players.

Magilton said: “I have never kidded anyone. We are better, but we are not where we want to be. All of these lads give me everything every week so it is not about attitude or application.

“The search for quality and experience goes on. Some of these lads have outlived their days here, but I can't fault their efforts.

“It hastens the search but I know where we are at.”

It is probable he is talking about the likes of Alan Lee who he is ready to sell if a buyer can be found but most of the rest of his squad are players he has brought in or handed new contracts to.

Magilton pulled no punches in damning his team as being second best against the hungrier Wolves.

Town lost 2-0 as they still wait for their first home win of the league season and lost Alex Bruce to a second half red card.

Magilton said: “Alex was one of our plus points. He was dealing with a tricky winger in Jarvis and for 60 minutes his tackling was exemplary.

“He had to be immaculate then when the ball ran away from him he showed a desire to win it back and when your feet leave the ground it is going to be a straight red. He got plenty of the ball but I have no complaints.”

Town went behind in the first half when Matt Jarvis' cross was met by Sylvan Ebanks-Blake who took advantage of slack marking by Town skipper Gareth McAuley.

The second followed Alex Bruce's second half dismissal with Jarvis involved again.

Richard Wright could not hold on to a shot from the winger and it was followed up by substitute David Edwards who finished from close range.

Magilton said: “We were poor right from the start. We were well beat by a better side. We didn't start the game well, they did and they capitalised on our sloppiness.

“Possession-wise we were poor and we kept giving the ball back to them. You don't do that against good players.

“They dominated for 45 minutes and it took 38 minutes before we had a shot.”

The first half especially was one-sided and Magilton was upset at the lack of desire shown by his side.

He said: “It was embarrassing at times. We didn't get near them. We didn't show a work ethic

“They played at a pace and a tempo and looked like the home side.

“It was so different to last Saturday when we had to roll up ourselves and compete.”

The Blues get a chance to get back to winning ways, as they did following the loss at home to Preston, when they entertain Colchester United in the League Cup on Tuesday.

He said: “I'm not naïve enough to think we can just turn it on and off.

“Last year we hit the ground running. We were positive we scored goals and won games and that continued during the season.

“If teams come here and work as the first two teams have worked then we are going to find it difficult.

“So we have to have the desire to do the fundamentals and they are the nasty bits of the games, winning tackles, winning headers and second balls.

“They did it better than we did and we good not get a foothold in the game.”

Magilton admitted changes will be made for the game at home to Colchester United tomorrow.