Manager Roy Keane says that despite the Blues’ lowly position in the Championship he doesn’t blame his players. Keane feels his team is performing well, even if they aren’t taking their chances, but he says he has also made mistakes this season.

The Blues boss said: “I have to say, I can’t really fault them. That sounds crazy. I’ll have to look at myself and say ‘Why aren’t I winning them football matches?’. I think I’m the one who needs to be doing better, not the players.”

Keane says there are occasions that he looks back on this season when he feels he should have done things differently, including Tuesday’s match against Peterborough: “I put the two subs on and we went too long. Maybe I should have gone with one off the front.

“I remember when we were 3-1 up at Sheffield United we should have changed the shape then. When we were 3-2 up against Doncaster in the last few minutes we maybe should have changed it then too. You always have to look at yourself and your own performances.

“If players are missing chances, there’s not much I can do about that, but there are the fine details and I could have got them a bit better the other night.”

The Town manager feels that his team’s improved performances will ultimately lead to better results: “I think they are giving their best, but we need to start putting the ball in the back of the net, but that will come.

“We’re doing a lot of good stuff and when you keep doing the right stuff it will come for you.

“People on the outside might think we’re playing negative football, we’re playing five in midfield, but I think we’re playing some decent stuff. Second half the other night I don’t think we were that great but we still had three or four great chances and we scored a legitimate goal which was disallowed.

“Things are falling into place now and that’s when you have to continue doing the right things and eventually it will happen. It isn’t at the moment, but maybe it will against Blackpool.”

Keane is grateful for the continued support from the majority of supporters: “The fans have been brilliant, I’m very, very lucky in that sense and hopefully they’ll get behind us against Blackpool. We all need to give them a boost, we’ve certainly not done it in terms of winning games.

“I can talk all day about performances and creating chances blah, blah, blah, but supporters want results. I appreciate that and we’ll try and give them that on Saturday.

“We do appreciate the support. We certainly don’t take it for granted whether at home and away because we know it’s not cheap.”

A victory today against Blackpool could take the Blues out of the bottom three, while a draw may be enough if Sheffield Wednesday fail to win.

Photo: Action Images

SouperJim added 12:20 - Dec 12 Honest and brave as always, whatever you might think about Keane, he certainly doesn't hide away from the criticism directed at him.
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bedsitfc added 12:21 - Dec 12 it takes a brave man to admit he has made mistakes in football management but fair comment from keane although i dont think its 100% down to him. as a unit things are not right but we are getting there slowly. our season will turn around very soon and i know we have a lot to do but in can see us in the play-offs at the end of the season
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Mark added 12:24 - Dec 12 An honest assessment from Keane I think. The fans have kept behind the manager and the team, and it is a shame that results are not coming as a reward. The failure to score goals is largely a result of big-money signings flopping. A midfield including a new 3m central man, a new 1.5m left winger and a new 1m right winger should be supplying loads of chances to the new 1.7m striker to score!!

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PutYaBootsOnKeano added 12:29 - Dec 12 Poor chap doesn't need to defend himself in my eyes. Players need to perform, better, and will and are.. Had Pablo and Gareth not missed basically open goals, there would be no inquisition..
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Back_The_Boss added 12:31 - Dec 12 Although the table doesn't lie and we have not done as well as we should have done so far, Keano does deserve some credit.
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*REMOVED* added 13:02 - Dec 12 The more I read about Keane the more I admire him. It takes a true leader to analyze one's own faults instead of automatically searching for external causes for failure/lack of success. To do so in public is even more laudable. I can see why Old Git was so taken by Keane in their meetings. Even though Roy has yet to deliver the success we all desire, I'm proud to have him manage our beloved club.

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gtd added 13:09 - Dec 12 Takes a massive amount of guts to admit you've made mistakes when you're team is sitting in 22nd. You've got to respect him for that. Everyone makes mistakes, its whether you learn from them that really matters. And judging from what he's just said, he's learning from them all the time. Hopefully the players will take note of this interview and realise they (strikers in particular) need to play their part and start delivering the results Keane deserves.

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Welbeck_Loan added 13:16 - Dec 12 Well said duffers
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Suffolk_n_Good added 13:49 - Dec 12 Your right Keano you have made some mistakes, however you have failed to list your biggest one....... SIGNING PRISKIN FOR £1.7M!!! Still think Keano is the right man.
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corshamblue added 13:49 - Dec 12 Big Respect to Keano, Identify the errors and eradicate them. His comments show his best side - I don't like his over grown ego but keep those comments up and he will learn and become a very good manager and attain further success, I hope with Ipswich Town. Keano! Keano! COYB
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danknott added 13:59 - Dec 12 just stop talking keane and make sure your players get three points today!!! COYB
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AJblue added 14:44 - Dec 12 Give the man the respect he deserves. He seems to have a passion for ITFC, and as such he has my full support. As for mistakes, yes he has made some, dont we all? Lets not forget he is a fledgling manager, with in my opinion a huge future, and i truly hope that future is with us.
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bluepirate added 15:27 - Dec 12 Not bad Keane, now what about admitting poor signings and wasting a bag load of money just like you did at Sunderland, and also dropping players and pretty much just about getting rid of them before they come back into the side and save your bacon, ie Gavan, Wright, McCauley..... what about giving a little Spaniard a chance to do the same????
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Coastalblue added 16:21 - Dec 12 That's actually gone a little way to winning me over.
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Markie31 added 17:43 - Dec 12 KEANO!!
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Tampa_Florida_Blue added 17:54 - Dec 12 I sit here in Florida and can only read on the internet how my #1 team is doing each and every day. I watched Jim get slated while at ITFC, and hardly befor Keano warmed the seat, he to was being slated to. I can remember being at PR a few years back when teams feared coming into town, not because we had such a great team, but the noise level from the supports was so loud, that PR was one of the most intimidating place to be! Keano is still young in his management days, and has had to mold the team to play his way. Slowly he is getting there. Every one has had to get use to his way of doing things, the players that was there from Jim has had to change, the new players coming in has had to learn about ITFC and the current players to. there has been so many big changes, and no one can do it over night. Even Alex Ferguson almost got MUFC relegated befor they became the force they have been for many years. Roy Keane has stood up and said "I dont know everything and I am learning by my mistakes". I'm sure every one out there do this every day, learn by our mistakes. ITFC will become a force to be feared again, all it takes now is for us to get behind "OUR" team, and scream and shout at every game to help the team. We are the 12th player on the pitch! COYB!!!!!!!!!

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bluepeter added 18:21 - Dec 12 suffolk n good you have misspelt MISSkins name!!!!!!!!!!! I fully admire keano's admission of his own mistakes, now that is true strength of charater.
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Dowson added 12:50 - Dec 13 the only thing we are missing is a striker if we have 1 we would be 1st played great footie but the only peeps who can score and look like scoring are stead, leadbitter and gareth! (a defender :S) but lets keep the faith and after the 3-1 we will go on a winning run
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kentblue added 06:26 - Dec 14 RK doesn't need to admit his mistakes since they are clearly there for all to see ! With the depth of squad we have, ITFC should NEVER be in the position we find ourselves . Why are we there ? RK 's team selection and constant chopping and changing of players ! Let's hope for everyone's sake that he doesn't have any more fall outs with players and chooses a settled side for future games !

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