Boss Roy Keane says he is expecting a reaction to Tuesday’s defeat to QPR when Cardiff visit Portman Road on Saturday. The Blues manager, who says his Town side are still some way from being promotion material, expects the Bluebirds to be similarly determined to bounce back after losing to Leicester in midweek.

Keane said: “There will be a reaction. We all know that we let ourselves down the other night, we didn’t perform. Credit to QPR, they took full advantage of our off night but we’ll look to bounce back on Saturday.

“Again it’s a tough game for us because Cardiff are a good team, they’re a big goal threat. We came up short the other night but I hope we won’t come up short on Saturday.”

The Blues boss feels that how sides deal with losses is key to success in the Championship: “Both clubs have a point to prove, having lost the other night. That’s what football’s about, how you react to disappointment, particularly in the Championship because you are going to lose a lot of games.

“Even the sides that got promoted last year lost eight, nine or 10 games. It’s our first loss and we need to bounce back.

"I think it was coming. I don’t think we played particularly well last week or a couple of weeks before in the international break.”

Keane says Tuesday’s game showed just how far his team still has to progress: “It’s a good reminder for everybody that we’re far from being a team capable of getting promoted. We’ve got a long way to go yet and we saw that last night up against QPR’s experience, their know-how, their attacking options. It was a good reality check for everybody.”

Defender Darren O’Dea is considered a big doubt for Town due to his knee injury, while Cardiff could welcome back Craig Bellamy, also after a knee problem.

Photo: Action Images

bedsitfc added 08:54 - Sep 17 i was expecting a reaction on wednesday by M.E seeing that we are behind in quality to QPR
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bedsitfc added 08:55 - Sep 17 give keane more power to get some loanees in
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promotionparty added 09:13 - Sep 17 Bedsit what reaction would that be then? heres £10 Mill oh wait you cant spend it never mind?
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BlueBoots added 09:27 - Sep 17 Keano does seem to have the knack of picking the team up after a defeat. We haven't had back-to-back defeats for over a year, so hopefully that run will continue against Cardiff... Let's get 25k+ into Portman Road on Saturday with the £10 tickets, and COYB!
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Gilesy added 09:40 - Sep 17 I can't decide if I like Keane's refreshing honesty, or am annoyed by the fact that we really should be getting closer to having a team that is ready for promotion.
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blue_em_away added 09:54 - Sep 17 BlueBoots Is that right? No back to back defeats for over a year. Didn't know that, well done. I just hope you haven't just given that stat "The manager of the month" treatment, if you know what I mean.
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BlueBoots added 10:55 - Sep 17 blue_em_away ""The manager of the month" treatment" Yep, I know exactly what you mean...was worried I might have jinxed us about 2 seconds after posting that stat! :^D
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BlooooCD added 11:14 - Sep 17 In my opinion after a defeat at home, with a pi$$ poor performance like we saw on Tuesday will say a shed load about the team we follow! I expect all the players to be fired up for this game... The bluebirds will be after a win following their defeat! We need to come out the blocks like crazed lunatics but with intelligent football minded players... If we switch off on Saturday or keep playing the long ball or lump it anywhere football we will get torn apart! Come on Town lets turn over Cardiff and show that Tuesday was an off night! A long way to go but I'm sure we can get there... I thought Tuesday was very indicative of our shortcomings in the transfer window! But thats done and now the players and manager we have have to get us where we want to be, so I'm behind them all! Come on Town!!!! 3-1 town win!

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Surco72 added 11:35 - Sep 17 We have to play two up front at home Wickham and Scotland to start and keep the ball on the floor to play to Scotlands game otherwise there was no point in buying him. And as said above we need to come out firing so Cardiff dont know whats hit them if we let them settle early we could be in trouble again . Our first halves this season havent been the best ,have we actually scored a first half goal yet ? Why is it taking us so long to get players in ? 3 players signed and two on loan since the end of last season with 16 or so going out ,other clubs are signing loans left right and centre .What about Jermaine Jenas on loan short term as he seems way down the pecking order at Spurs and is just the passing midfielder we need ,and Finnian still has no club and we need a right back ?

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slippery1212 added 11:48 - Sep 17 We are suppose to have a chairman with money and a big named manager. Where is the evidence that the chairman is willing to splash the cash or is it just no decent player wants to play for Keane. Look at QPR there chairman and manager have worked to together to bring in a wealth of decent players and not at great cost. COME TOWN GET IT SORTED!
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zippyrainbow added 12:05 - Sep 17 Nice to see our thug manager laying the groundwork for his future excuses on why we are going to finish mid-table this year. Hopefully when we are languishing there in January, Keane will bugger off and walk his dogs then we can get a decent manager in !!!!
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bluechick added 13:08 - Sep 17 Did he gee them up by telling them on tuesday win this and if the results go our way we'll be top? then watch a typical throw it all away performance which we're always capable of doing.
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Back_The_Boss added 13:36 - Sep 17 Q.P.R are a very good team and will certainly be up there this season. Big game saturday and a chance to put the defeat behind us. COYB!
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ITFCsince67 added 15:56 - Sep 17 Tell you what Mr K. Play the players in the right postions........simples. JS is not a lone striker or a striker who plays behind anotherstriker. Play him him in a 2 let him score. Oh and also teach your back 5 to pass the ball on the ground.
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SurreyITFC added 19:04 - Sep 17 Reaction - Certainly would not want to be in our dressing room if they don't all play the hearts out tomorrow. COYB - Keano's Barmy Army
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