Boss Roy Keane says he and his staff will reflect on Saturday’s display at Scunthorpe and the first half performance in particular. Keane’s Blues, who are still to score a first half goal in the league, were very much under par in the opening period before improving after the break, the match ending 1-1.

Keane said: “We’ll reflect on the performance. We always look at the players and shape but we also have to look at myself and the staff, our preparation.

"We’ll have to look at it as our first half performances haven’t been great in terms of scoring goals, but then in the second half we saw what we are capable of doing.

“I thought the match summed us up, we are a little bit hit and miss. When we’re good, we’re not bad, but when we’re bad, we’re bad! There’s no in between.

“We got away with it a little bit in the first half, but I also give credit to the players, they reacted well and we were glad to get in at half-time. We made one or two changes and in terms of chances in the second half we could have been 3-1 or 4-1 up.

“So, despite the lack of concentration towards the end, the game should have been dead and buried. But we’re equally capable of giving the lad a couple of one-on-ones and they might have won it. I think both managers will take the point and move on.”

The Blues boss says there is little between his side and the Iron: “Last year and this year we’ve played Scunny three times. We drew here, we also drew here last year and we won in injury time at home, so there’s clearly not much between the two teams.

“We’re not the finished article, we’ve a long way to go, and that’s not being disrespectful to Scunny. It just goes to show that in terms of QPR and Cardiff, they’re way ahead of us at the moment and we’ve a battle on our hands and a tough season ahead.”

Photo: Action Images

Back_The_Boss added 09:34 - Sep 27 Amazing that we haven't scored in the first half of any league match. I think the result on saturday was a case of 2 points dropped rather than 1 point gained.
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StowTractorBoy added 10:08 - Sep 27 One point gained for me as not looking good at half time.
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Surco72 added 10:43 - Sep 27 Over the past three of maybe even four seasons we seem to get very few points against the lower or relegated sides in the league, and i believe Scunthorpe will be one of those sides . Is it a mind set thing over confidence ? Whatever the reason if we are serious about promotion we need to be beating the weaker sides to stand any chance . And last season Keano was criticisng players for not being mentally prepared for games ,on our first half outings so far little has changed until Roys half time rocket . I still believe Leadbitter and Norris do not bring the best out of each other as a duo and do not work as a pairing which is why we end up hoofing the ball and we look a lot better when Hyam is playing but Roy doesnt seem to want to drop Norris or Leadbitter and we shouldnt need three central midfielders to stop us being overun by the likes of Scunthorpe after spending £5 million plus on our central two . For me 2 points dropped especially at end of season

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bluelady added 10:59 - Sep 27 two big games coming up..... personally i would like to see Jamie Peters at right back, ODea in the centre with big mac and Kennedy at left back. I think with the two big men who are both very good tacklers in the centre they will give cover to allow Jamie and Kennedy to press forward. With all due respect to him Eastman is not and never will be a right back. With four centre backs across the back of the field of course we are going to play hoof ball which means our wingers wont get a chance to keep the ball on the floor and make decent runs. Bring in a right back and then Jamie can play further fowrard, either way i thnk he deserves to start even if it means dropping someone like leadbitter who for me has been poor all season. as for saturday a point we may well have lost last year, i think Keane is growing in his tactical ability as by making those changes he turned the game on its head and we became an attacking force so well done to him. He also is brave enough to admit he got it wrong first of all. I am not a keane lover, nor do i dislike the guy, he is our manager and i for one will support him and the team through good and bad! as for those who say we have been lucky this year, maybe but i have also seen better football on occaisions than i have seen in a long time!

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suffolksam added 12:09 - Sep 27 i reckon your right leadbeatter and and keen and priskin and that other bloke have to go
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zippyrainbow added 12:26 - Sep 27 Was Keane actually talking or was his quotes taken from a tape from last season. Sounds like the same boring excuses he was using. But, some of you think we had a good result don't you? How standards have fallen and some of you should hang your heads in shame. It's Scunthorpe people, not Barca !!!!!!
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bluelady added 12:38 - Sep 27 and we are fourth Zippy not bottom, boy being around you must be soooo despressing!
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hollywoodginge added 12:43 - Sep 27 I think it's refreshing to hear that this is being addressed, without wanting to speak Ill of previous managers I got fed up of hearing how well we played every game when it blatantly wasn't the case, keane, like us, always wants more from the team and honeslty addresses it how he see's it.
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Acen added 13:40 - Sep 27 Are we actually going to score at home then?
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brian_a_mul added 15:09 - Sep 27 Reading tomorrow is a really tough one. It will be interesting to see who Keane picks and how the team shape looks from the start. Can Keane turn us in to a 90 minute team, will we start the game with ungency, will Wickham be on the bench, will Hyam start in midfield? Important decisions but this is what he is paid to do!
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gav_g added 17:10 - Sep 27 Interesting to see wot keano said: I agree QPR were far better than us, but i personally dont think cardiff were- without bellamy, chops and olly they were like us; a combative team without real creativity. With one or two high-calibre signings (and or including a RB) in Jan i can honestly see us finishing above them if ME backs RK with his cash. Probably good management to make the players improve further after the horrendous first half @ scunny.

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BlueJewells added 21:40 - Sep 27 we've always been a first half team
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corshamblue added 10:37 - Sep 28 Storm in a Tea Cup. Surco72 summed up the main issues nicely, but it's not something that's wrong - it just needs a minor adjustment of mindset. Leadbitter and Chuck are better players than 'Hoofers' and need to be more 'composed' in possession IMO and retain the ball for longer and find a pass that progressive or at worse retains the ball. Hyam is probably the reason RK was happy to let a certain other mid go to Palace - a better passing game and a better eye and desire for the ball. I still think we're performing above our 'real game' at the moment and Top 6 would have been a realistic goal pre-season at this stage.

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