BLUES Boss Jim Magilton will step up his attempts to land a new striker after the David Nugent loan deal fell through.Poor finishing again let Town down last night as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Championship strugglers Sheffield United last night.

Derek Davis

BLUES Boss Jim Magilton will step up his attempts to land a new striker after the David Nugent loan deal fell through.

Poor finishing again let Town down last night as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Championship strugglers Sheffield United last night.

Magilton ended his interest in taking Nugent in this transfer window after the player told him he was still not fit enough to leave Portsmouth and would not be so until next week at the earliest.

A deal had been done between the two clubs but it was down to the player to make the move and he has shown a marked reluctance to join Ipswich.

Magilton said: “It is dead - finished.”

But Magilton is still hoping to land a proven goalscorer before their trip to Barnsley next week, although has not yet formally moved for anyone.

Magilton said: “We need someone to give us all a pick me up. When you have someone in your team who, when you don't have many chances in a game, the ball lands to him and he scores, then it can get you out of all sort of trouble.”

Sheffield United striker Danny Webber is among the alternatives Magilton is understood to have shown an interest in but he has only just started training against after a cartilage operation.

David Healy is another but Magilton said last week that he may not be the type of striker Town are after at this time.

With season ticket prices set to be announced this week, Magilton was hoping to send the fans home happy with a win.

He said: “We started the game brightly and moved the ball around well. We picked an offensive side because we are at home and needed to win.

“Because we didn't get the early goal it gave Sheffield United confidence and they have a lot of good players in their side.

“We have the ball away cheaply for the goal. It was poor from our point of view but we have shown a lot of character to get back in the game.

“I thought we would go on and win it but we lacked composure at times but I can't fault their effort.”

Sheffield United boss Kevin Blackwell thought his side could have secured their first Championship win in nine attempts.

He said: “We were abject on Saturday so we knew if we came here and didn't compete then we would be rolled over.

“I felt it was a nailed on penalty when Rob Hulse was shoved in the back and even the Ipswich keeper admitted to James Beattie that they had got away with it.”

derek.davis@archant.co.uk