Boss Jim Magilton pulled no punches after his side's dismal Carling Cup defeat to the MK Dons. The Town manager felt the Blues were second best throughout and were fortunate that the game wasn't out of reach by half-time.

Magilton said: “There are no excuses whatsoever. The better team won and MK Dons were a credit to their manager the way they kept going.

“At half-time we were lucky to still be in the game and being 2-1 down flattered us.

“We played better second half but it was still very disappointing. We have to be better than that and it was a shocking last goal, too.

“Even when we were 3-2 up we were disappointing. We were so sloppy at times it was frightening.

“We now have to go to Plymouth and if I'm a Plymouth scout watching this I know exactly what I would be telling my players.”

Magilton may be cheered up slightly today if Kieron Dyer's move from Newcastle to West Ham goes through. The Blues stand to gain an undisclosed percentage of anything the Magpies make on the £6.5 million they paid Town for the midfielder after his 1999 move to St James' Park.

The percentage, almost certainly in the 10-20% range, could be triggered with £7 million reported to be the fee which will reunite Dyer with Richard Wright at Upton Park.

Meanwhile, Town loan target Andy Carroll has joined Preston North End on a short-term basis.

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