Boss Roy Keane was delighted with the way Jon Stead reacted to Saturday’s harsh red card, netting Town’s second and third goals in the 3-0 victory over QPR.

Keane said: "Jon did really well. Saturday was disappointing for him but you're always going to have disappointments as a footballer.

"You're going to get injured, suspended and lose a bit of form. You have to deal with setbacks but it's about action.

"I said two or three weeks ago that I wanted one of my strikers to step out of the pack Steady's done that but how he didn't end up with a hat-trick I'll never know."

The Blues boss felt there were a lot of positives to take from the victory: "It was a good reaction from Saturday. All the squad contributed and there were plenty of pluses.

"We scored three goals at home and on another day it could have been more. I'm really pleased with all the players.

"Any team can win a football match but the good teams keep winning. We've not won back-to-back games since last May, but we're getting there."

Keane revealed that David Wright was left out after picking up a cut to his foot at Crystal Palace, which required five stitches: "Wrighty wanted to play but the medical staff said it would be a risk and Jaime has played at full-back for us before and he did well.”

QPR boss Paul Hart thought his side’s display in the opening 45 minutes deserved more: "I thought our first half performance warranted a better return than we got.

"We were unfortunate with their first goal, when it took a deflection and looped past the keeper.

"After that I thought we should have had a penalty [when Jay Simpson went to ground on the edge of the area and referee Steve Tanner waved away his protest] and then should have scored after a great cross fell to Adel Taarabt. Goals change games.

"We felt if we could reproduce our performance of the first half we'd be all right but we lost our legs a bit.

"Their second goal came after a slip on the touchline and it's hard to swallow because we're not getting done by great goals. We're the architects of our own downfall.

"We should have been ahead at half-time and felt that if we could replicate our performance of the first half we could get at least a draw."

Photo: Action Images

SomershamBlue added 08:22 - Dec 29 Best possible response to the red card incident. Well done Steady - and the rest of the team.
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jas0999 added 09:48 - Dec 29 Stead (first touch aside!) played very well today. But isn't it typical of Roy and the Clubs luck . . . just as he's started to score goals, he gets a harsh red card and the reality is he will miss 3 crucial games - which begs the question who will score for us? I hope common sense on the appeal prevails - but who is actually confident? We are not Chelsea or Man Utd!
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Surco72 added 09:52 - Dec 29 As i have said all season Stead has a great scoring record for Town and with regular playing is our 20 goal striker , where would we be in the league if Stead and Garvan had been played more early in the seaon ?
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Tractor_Thief added 10:49 - Dec 29 Agree with the Stead comments very good performance all round, although I feel he should be partnered with someone else (I think Stern is past his best). However for me man of the match was Peters, Routlidge was kept quiet the whole game. For the whole 90 minutes I can only recall him getting 2 or 3 crosses in, which considering what I have seen him do to some other teams it must be considered a 5 star performance from Jamie (and man of the match for me). Its good to see that we have players that can cover other positions.

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NW10_Tractor added 11:42 - Dec 29 DD and Macca were fantastic in Defence. They managed to snuff out Jay Simpson and I have seen him bend defences inside and out. Good to see Chuck back in the middle of the park but mnothing made me more happier than to give it the big 'un to the QPR fans who have been constantly running their mouth out my team! "Ipswich are Rubbish..." they keep on telling me! "But we beat you! So shut your face! Onwards and Upward, Town!

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WREXHAM_BLUE added 11:57 - Dec 29 Excellent performance against a good side and three throughly deserved points. Not sure which game Mr Hart was watching though - "should have been ahead by half time?" - 4-1 down maybe if chances had gone in (though accepted, they did dominate a lot of the play in the latter part of the first half without creating anyting of note). Roll on Blackpool... weather allowing!!

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DavidMurray added 12:39 - Dec 29 Go easy on Paul Hart, QPR have only won one in eight now, he probably knows they got ripped but is just trying to get the confidence up a bit. I don't honestly see how he thought they should have won, it's just talk. As for our performance, very pleased. Shows how important Walters and Leadbitter are to the whole team.
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bleedblue added 13:42 - Dec 29 Whooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh Jon Stead is on Fire!! That has got me going, suda-u-perb! We need to start this up next game, brilliant!! Well done boys!!
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Bergholtblue added 14:11 - Dec 29 I agree with Tractor Thief. I was worried when I founf that Paters had come in for Wrighty, but what a performance! It was good to see that Norris and Leg-biter were starting to build a partnership. There was some talk that they may be too similar players, but they looked good together first half. Another thing that impressed me was that the subs came on an contributed to the game. Too many times have we seen the subs fail to make a mark. A good game all round, good atmosphere. I particularly like "you're getting sacked in the morning" chant to Paul Hart.

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Greektractor added 14:15 - Dec 29 UEFA 81 = scummer. I think we should hunt him down and give him a talking too. Clearly only comments when we lose. In the words of your fellow delia "whwerea arrre ya?".
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Greektractor added 14:15 - Dec 29 UEFA 81 = scummer. I think we should hunt him down and give him a talking too. Clearly only comments when we lose. In the words of your fellow delia "whwerea arrre ya?".
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bens_a_blue added 14:33 - Dec 29 Great performance yesterday, one of the better displays at PR for a while, although IF some of the QPR players knew how to finish it could have been a different game. Starting to look promising with some key partnerships starting form. I would say in Jan we need to be looking at getting in a player who is a natural left footer - this has been a big let down for us in the final third i.e. a right footed player is beating his man, but then having to cut back on himself (losing the space he's created) and failing to deliver. IMO the team for '10. -------------Stead------------- ?????-------Garvan-------Walters --------Norris-Leadbitter------ Wright-Delaney-McAuley-Rosenior ------------Murphy------------- Or maybe we already have ????? in Colback?! What do people think?

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NW10_Tractor added 14:41 - Dec 29 Colback is most certainly the player to fill that "?????"
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SomershamBlue added 14:47 - Dec 29 I'd say that Peters could also be "?????" Terric performance (again) by him yesterday.
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bluewein added 16:52 - Dec 29 ????? and Luca not even thought of?
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VemundBrekkeSkard added 16:53 - Dec 29 I'd just like to echo what Surco said about Stead and Garvan. I spent the most part of the early season trying to explain to people why we needed them in the team (and not on the transfer list being told they can leave if any offers came in like Keane had said) but people (mostly idiots) interpreted it as me obviously hating Keane, therefore obviously hating Ipswich, and obviously being a Norwich fan (or at least someone who needed to 'go look up what support means'). It was probably the most irritating time I've ever had supporting Ipswich. But now we're winning games AND I'm being proved right. Happy times indeed. Oh, and the Kings of Leon chant (Jon Stead is on Fire) just HAS to become a regular song at Portman Road. As well as ooh aah Lead-bit-taah (like the old Man Utd Cantona chant) for Grant Leadbitter. MAKE IT HAPPEN.

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Seasider added 17:57 - Dec 29 Article above was about Rk's comments concerning the v.good win over QPR;so am a bit surprised that no one has mentioned the Manager hardly in comments.Feel he is moulding this team slowly but surely into a formidable outfit,so WELL DONE KEANO.
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Keaneish added 18:03 - Dec 29 VBS - i think Keane was right to drop Garvan at the start of the season as he was woeful. The time out of the team has done him the world of good. In my opinion that's really good management. Garvan has come back fitter, stronger and far hungrier. He could have gone on loan but opted to stay and fight for his place now we're all reaping the rewards. Anyone who wants to question Keane's management style could take a look at that instance and have a bit of admiration in my opinion. Admiration for Garvan as well for finally applying himself correctly.

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tractor_lady added 20:16 - Dec 29 Keanish i totally agree and same for Stead too - both have come back looking far more like they want to be in the team. Can only be a good think. The legend who is the 'BEAT' was on the radio yesterday saying the best way to motivate players in his humble oppinion is to have have a sqaud with players itching on the sidelines to get in the team - keeping those in the team on their toe and when they dont come up to scratch giving those around them the chance to shine. I think Keane has done that and got the best out of his players - look at Jamie Peters, comes out week in week out looking hungry and keen to secure his place. Delaney actually wasnt a keane signing, Damian himself said recently that Jim has sorted the deal before he left town...... BUT Keane has after a shakey start certainly got the best out of him and with Bruce chumping at the bit to get back and young smith we have a healthy CB picture. I like others had doubts about Keane, but slowly and surely i truely believe he is showing his worth - there was moments of real ball passing at the weekend, something we have been missing for a few seasons - much better than hoofing it up field and hoping for the best :-)

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tractorboy11uk added 20:53 - Dec 29 Tractor lady, your spot on with your comments. In general RK is a superstar of world football and he is here at Portman Road and we should be damn proud of it too! Yes he is being paid big bucks but remember he didnt have to come here ! His methods are deeply thought out, everybody has had a chance to shine. Some have fallen by the wayside a bit, Healy, Martin, Priskin but others have been taught a lesson and came back all the better for it, Peters, Delaney,Stead, Garvin. Yes the poor signings were made by RK but who, earlier this season want to come here in an experimental RK team? Every manager makes signing that dont come off, look at the millions lost by mssrs Ferguson, Benitez, Hughes etc. Sometimes you just have hold your hands up and say 'it didnt work out' RK is a legend ! Enjoy the ride Keano, Keano !!!

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petermorris added 21:23 - Dec 29 Yes above, and all those anti Stern John fans - you probably missed his inspired contibution to the first goal - without it we'd have been all square or 2-0 down at half time. Good loan signing RK; while some of our other so called strikers get their sh*t together.
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huntingdonblue68 added 23:23 - Dec 29 Lets hope we can kick on get to the 4th round of the fa cup sat draw a big one on mon , keep winning and keep those moaners and part time supporters off here .
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imafootballgod added 03:45 - Dec 30 Stead is an average player, however shouldn't be on our side, I would much rather see priskin and counago up top, people think priskin is a waste of space but at least he Gets the chances to miss, glad to see the back of stern john he is useless and now keane will hopefully give priskin another try. COYB!!!
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SomershamBlue added 08:14 - Dec 30 "....but at least he Gets the chances to miss..." Not perhaps the soundest of reasons for playing him! Seriously, I hope that he (Priskin) does get another chance and that he takes it!
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