Boss Roy Keane says Daryl Murphy's loan move to Portman Road has given the Sunderland striker a new lease of life. Murphy scored his fourth and fifth goals for the Blues during the 2-0 victory over Cardiff City.

Keane said: "We've given him a new lease of life and he could be in double figures already. I spoke to him in the summer about joining and he probably regrets that that didn't happen.

"He's come in and had a run of games and his biggest strength is definitely playing through the middle.

"He's getting chances in every game and I was pleased with his goals tonight. They were poacher's goals, particularly the second one.

"We haven't scored anywhere near enough like that this season and need more. We try to score so many wonder goals after 15 or 16 passes."

The Blues boss wasn’t getting too carried away by the victory: "I'm still grumpy. We know what the players are capable of and they haven't done it enough this season.

"We scored two, their keeper made two particularly good saves and I thought we played not bad.

"We kept it well, stretched them when we had to, created chances and the players looked like they enjoyed it. In terms of keeping the ball, our tackling and our shape, the tempo was decent."

Keane was impressed with Shane O’Connor’s home debut: "Shane O'Connor can be pleased with his performance. He gave the fans a lift with his energy and keeping a clean sheet is a positive for the back four.

"Cardiff are a good side but apart from Michael Chopra's chance in the first half, they had to make do with shots from distance.

"It was a good win for us and a good reaction from the defeat at Blackpool but we need to follow it up against Scunthorpe on Saturday."

Cardiff’s assistant boss Terry Burton admitted his side were poor: "Ipswich were by far the better team. They played better on the night and 2-0 flattered us.

"Everyone uses it as an excuse but we've got a lot of injuries, including players who would normally be in our starting 11.

"We never got going, though. We were second best in every area and there was so much wrong that Dave Jones could be talking to the players until midnight.

"We can still make the play-offs, but we'll certainly be a lot happier when we get some of our injured players back."

Photo: Action Images

naa added 10:39 - Mar 10 Agree RedDust: Norris and Leadbitter are both good players but Garvan showed last night how desperately we need someone creative with an eye for a pass in the middle. Norris and Leadbitter just cannot provide that. Personally I'd drop Norris. Problem is Keane likes graft more than guile and norris and Leadbitter are both grafters. Let's hope Garvan's performance has wisened him up a bit.

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sereneblue added 10:46 - Mar 10 Owen Garvan the difference. More of a balanced side.Shane O'Connor a breathe of fresh air. Please keep the same side for Saturday Roy.Well done lads.
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bennyblue added 11:10 - Mar 10 this next game really is a 6 pointer we will pull away from bottom and leave scunthorpe behind if we can win;;trouble is we are still staying 11 points behind playoffs.and any time previously this season when we have had the chance to get out of the bottom mess we screw up ....what's the odds 0-0 draw again ?
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MightyPaz added 12:38 - Mar 10 I agree I think Garvan should keep his place, but Keane has his favourites and the amount he's talked up Norris I can't see him being dropped. I think most Town fans can see that Garvan is the closest player we've had to a playmaker since Magic Jim hung up his boots. There's no need to fight through four players if a beautiful pass can do the job.
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ITFCKeano added 13:20 - Mar 10 Reckon Keano's shaken the dust off some of the players and given them a new lease of life - toughened them up. Garvan and McC and one or two others have responded well, one or two havent but they've had their chances. Time will tell, but next season will be make or break for Keano and players. Give them next season I say and think things will be very different. Think the players are finally trusting him and have grown up a bit now. Keano's learnt a few lessons along the way too, as have the fans.

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AJblue added 14:45 - Mar 10 Couple of things...firstly well done boys, fantastic result. For me Leadbitter has been the best thing in this up 'n' down season. However he got himself suspended, and Garvan, yesterday, fully took his chance, so, perhaps that position should be his alongside Norris, and Leadbitter should have to fight to get his place back. Murphy, quite rightly getting the plaudits, we MUST sign him up, however Healy is still not getting all of us excited is he? Healy seems still to be lacking match fitness, and yes, he at the moment doesn't seem to have the goal threat of either Murphy or Stead (when on form).But i thought his work rate was excellent and his running the channels was superb, there was always an out ball, and that has been missing all season. I think for that reason alone he should be picked week in week out.

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Surco72 added 17:49 - Mar 10 Firstly Garvan has to play for me the side looks much more balanced and we passed a lot more and certainly less long hoof balls ,maybe play with three in the centre with wide men pushing further forward ? On the Stead situation i would rather have Stead than Healy any day someone who has scored over 20 goals in this league in the last year or someone who used to score 4 years ago ? Priskin was already gone to get Murphy ,so the comparison should be Stead and Healy ,i know who i would rather have . As for Murphy doing very well ,lets hope we can get him next year and then get Stead back anyway. Also give D Wright a new contract he never lets us down and we look more stable at the back when he is playing

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jas0999 added 18:03 - Mar 10 Why are some people still moaning about Stead? This is simple, we had to cut the wage bill, it was the offer on the table. His goal scoring record was blow average and he is too similar player to Murphy. Many people slated the Murphy signing before he kicked a ball. Presumably the same people will be holding their hands up to admit they were wrong. 5 in 8 is excellent and a far better record than Stead (who admitted he failed to score enough goals).

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stinkiusminkius added 18:12 - Mar 10 So, if I'm right, the general opinion at the end of last season was that we needed a striker, left back, left mid and centre back. The midfield was pretty good and we all knew that Walters is best on the right. Also we all knew that d wright was a solid good right back. And i think last night showed that, with four of keanes buys slotting in to the team in those positions. The annoying thing is that we've wasted most of the season with keane chopping and changing everywhere else too and virtually trying to overhaul the whole team when it wasnt necessary.

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tractaboy added 18:32 - Mar 10 Very good result. 3 points on Saturday and there will be some daylight and breathing space between us and the drop zone. Probably one of the best chances so far for back to back league wins.
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brittaniaman added 19:23 - Mar 10 Just been reading the QPR forum, there supporters are not very happy with Priskin, he is lazy and does not put himself about like he should (now where have I heard that before) .Here s hoping that Warnock will give him a kick up the ass to get him going to show he is worth the 1.7 mil .player he should be!!!!! Then perhaps we can sell him, to help to pay for Murphy in the summer. My opinion anyway !!!!!!!!!

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WadzillaBhoy added 19:43 - Mar 10 Well right now Healy said he would like to stay but Murph is still unsure, I know which one out of the two Id rather stayed with us. Maybe if we make a song for Murph he will feel appreciated at the club and will want to stay.
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dirtydingusmagee added 19:49 - Mar 10 i was thinking same Bennytheblue,i think Murphy has given Roy Keane a new lease of life!. Credit where due,RK has pulled rabbit out of hat with his signing. I think Murphy's 2nd goal was brilliant, really sharp, and well taken ,more chances taken like that please Daryl. Just hope RK can resist changing team about, confidence should be high amongst players after that performance, lets see some wins now ! COYB

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Blue_Fred added 20:26 - Mar 10 Rhetorical question geniuses..... does 5 in 8 qualify DM as the mythical 20+ a season striker...... He's the greatest - he's fantastic - Daryl Murf - de da de da da
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moomoosereni added 20:31 - Mar 10 No more Colback corners please! Although he inadvertedly set up Garvan for his shot that led to the second goal the vast majority of the rest were poor. Don't care who takes them but beat the first man!
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runaround added 21:14 - Mar 10 I hold up my hands! Didn't want Murphy here as i thought, after seemingly turning us down a few times a la Nugent, he wouldn't give 100%. Thankfully he is proving me wrong. Well done Murph, keep it up!!
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WickedBlue added 21:30 - Mar 10 Come on people at least pretend to know what your talking about. Healy and Stead are two differant type of players Stead is more in the shape of Murphy. Heally will come good but it might not be until next season, he is lacking the fitness and sharpness of the other players mainly due ot being a sub and reserve team football for way too long. Once Healy gets up to par he will be deadly in and around the six yard box. So get off his back....and roll on Saturday

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Stu_Magoo added 05:46 - Mar 11 Am I the only person that seems to have fathomed that Rosenior (altho didnt play in this match) and Murphy are trying to get themselves in the shop window and back in the Sunderland team respectively?
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bennyblue added 09:44 - Mar 11 who in their right mind would want to get into the sunderland team
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