Town manager Roy Keane says his players need to improve the quality of their final ball after again failing to make their supremacy tell during the latter stages at Watford last night, having done much the same during the home defeat to Coventry on Saturday. The Blues boss also feels his side, who have scored only once in the first half in the league this season, need to be more consistent throughout matches.

Keane said: “I think our final ball could have been a touch better, but that’s the hardest part of football. We’re just not doing it well enough.

“As much as I was pleased with the players in the second half on Saturday and more so with the second half at Watford, we need to be more consistent over the 90 minutes, although very few teams play really well for 90 minutes at any level.

“I think even when we got in good positions the final ball [let us down], one or two players were taking that extra touch. That’s why it’s the hardest part of football - trying to pick the final pass, putting the right weight on it, decision-making.

“Connor got in a few positions, Jason was in good positions in the box, young Murray was in good positions, but there was that extra bit of quality that we lacked, although that will come. That will come with experience for the players, as long as they learn from it.”

Keane changed to a 4-4-1-1 formation after weekend criticism of his use of a lone central striker but the Blues boss insists that the number of frontmen is only part of the story: “As I keep saying it’s not necessarily about having the right strikers on the pitch or the amount of strikers, it’s a matter of when you get these chances taking them. Tamás had half a chance, Jason did but it’s up to other players to contribute as well.

“We had to change it a little bit because of one or two injuries and because we wanted to freshen things up.

“In the second half I thought young Murray and Connor gave us a bit extra and Carlos coming on towards the end.

“But ultimately we’ve lost the game 2-1. You can talk about systems and tactics until the cows come home, you’ve still got to defend a touch better and when you get an opportunity put the ball in the back of the net.

“Because we’ve not been scoring many goals, conceding two was always going to make it hard for us. Watford came at us strongly after the break but we felt that if we got the goal back we’d get back into it, but we’re struggling to score goals.

“Against Coventry we had 21 shots and only one goal, we probably had a fair few tonight. I’m not sure about the offside goal, but I think we’re going through that little sticky patch and we’ve got to keep working and it certainly isn’t going to get any easier. That is the nature of the Championship.”

Keane confirmed that keeper Márton Fülöp missed out due to an injury but says that he hopes the Hungarian will be back for the weekend trip to Nottingham Forest: “Márton hurt his back yesterday morning. He’s been feeling it since last Friday, since he came back from the internationals.

“He played the game on Saturday and then we had a light session on Monday, but it was too stiff. Márton’s missed out and we’re hoping that he’ll be OK after three or four days’ rest. We’re lucky to have good goalkeepers backing him up with Murph and Arran.”

Photo: Action Images

martleshamitfc added 09:22 - Oct 20 There are alot of areas we need to improve unfortunately, we are still a soft touch , I would have thought by now with Keano's influence, we would be a solid team , i can't understand why is it always us that concedes silly goals from defensive errors, yet other teams never seem to gift us goals?
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Markthehorn added 09:37 - Oct 20 Our goalie gifted you Norris' though!
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olimar added 09:41 - Oct 20 The point that keeps returning is that the quality of balls to the forwards isnt good enough, we arent taking risks, we arent getting players into the right positions, making the right decisions. Yet we have no midfielder with a natural attacking instinct. Someone to get beyond the midfield and join the front line. Murray did that last night to an extent, playing behind the front two, but then he is largely a forward anyway. We do not score goals from distance, or from outside the box, largely because we dont have players who get into those positions or shoot in those positions.

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MAVERICK added 09:56 - Oct 20 Keane can't keep blaming players/supporters etc for bad results. Last season was the worst i can remember for over 40 years, this season looks like its sinking, but can't understand why we are still looking for loan players 1 year 6 months into is reign, things can only get better ?
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osborne1nil added 10:11 - Oct 20 Oh dear! Poor player selection for Saturday with 1 upfront and again last night a lack of attacking wingers. Where was Peters last night, one of the few players who has consistently performed well. Lack of attacking runs after he was substituted on Saturday and dropped for last night? We seem to still be lacking key players in RB and CF, this has been the case for sometime and could argue that we have never replaced David Wright since his departure. Final ball Keane, agree with you - but who do you blame? After 18 months in charge surely this is something that should have come across by now? Perhaps let somebody other than Leadbitter take a corner or freekick, as his delivery has been awful this season (along with below par performances in general by him IMO). Tough game against Forrest next and can only hope that they can come out hyped up for the game from the start and not wait until a goal (or 2) behind! Perhaps even a goal for Town in the first 45mins? Sort it out Keane. Come on you blues!

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Surco72 added 10:30 - Oct 20 Last season and the beginning of this Roy you said " putting the ball in the back of the net was the hardest part of football " now it is passing the ball to the player which is the hardest .But surely after spending 10 million on attacking players and attack minded midfielders we score less goals than when Magic was in charge . And to those saying we are better than last year we could hardly be any worse!! and only 3 points off third we are also only 3 points from 17th ,whilst we are 10 points points behind the leaders and nine from being bottom and sinking fast .In reality we have beaten 3 of the bottom four sides and Leeds who had a man sent off .Apart from the Cardiff game it has been the same hoof ball as last season more worried about negating the opposition than playing ourselves

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sonian_blue added 10:31 - Oct 20 £33 to go to Carrot Road, the money grabbing scummers.
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itfc1981 added 10:34 - Oct 20 dnt know where you get that scum are generally a lot cheaper
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Markthehorn added 10:49 - Oct 20 We had to pay £31 for our game at Norwich on the Opening night.,..which was on Sky anyway!
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Norwichbeater added 11:13 - Oct 20 I don't know about anyone else but i will support this manager as i have all the last.... However i just find going to footy frustrating and boring now. All my mates have gradually ceased going over the years. The atmosphere is poor and to be honest the footy is as well. I think we must have been spoiled in the past so a mediocre football club for the last 5 years is hard to take. However i will continue to go and sing my heart out support the players and the manager with the knowledge at some point it will turn and the good times will be back!!!! COYB

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hucks216 added 11:14 - Oct 20 Couldn't get to the game last night so listened to the commentary on Radio 5Live Extra and Mark Bright hit the nail on the head with Towns performances this seaon when he said "The fullbacks are very slow to support the wingers and Town lack any urgency. Ipswich are a side that will not be getting promoted this season." Twelve games into the season and we have only scored once in the first half in the league, and only 14 goals to our credit three of which came on the opening day. I have been to every home game and have left every game thinking our support play on the wings was awful. I can't help thinking that the days of Town being a free scoring team putting 3 or 4 (or more) past a team on a fairly regular basis are now over.

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TractorRoyNo1 added 11:24 - Oct 20 we didn't start until wickham and murray came on, priskin AGAIN a waste of space
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StowTractorBoy added 12:16 - Oct 20 I am still with Keano as I was last season despite teetering on the brink after the Watford game last season however I can't help thinking and seeing that Keane is getting back to the ways of last season. He picks players out of position he plays with no width - what did Edwards do to get dropped last night. He played with one up front on Saturday and with two last night surely it should have been the other way round. I despair when teams such as Watford have no money have soent little on players but are at the moment far better equipped than us on the field as they do score goals unlike us. This will be our achilles heel this season and unless this is remedied fast it will be mid table mediocrity or worse and then bye bye Roy which will be a shame as he is a passionate man but passion alone does not win football matches.

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whoppit added 12:17 - Oct 20 Keep the ball? Okay. Sack the manager !!! At what point will Marcus say enough is enough with this idiot in charge. Also, at what point do these hardcore Kene fans actually open their eyes to see what the rest of us are seeing? Marcus, Martin O'Neill is available who is a "proper" experienced manager !!!!!
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naa added 12:42 - Oct 20 Whoppit: I[m hardly Keane's biggest fan, and this season certainly looks like going the sam eway as last, only with a better start to it, but if you thin Martin O'Neill would come here then you are deluded. He left Villa because they wouldn't support him financially, why on earth would he come to a club who doesn't have anymore to spend (due to giving it to a certain manager with little clue in the transfer market).

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whoppit added 12:47 - Oct 20 naa - well, my middle name is optimist and one can only hope can't I? It will be a glorious day when Keane walks or gets the boot. Did anyone think we would get Roy Keane when Jim left? Why not hope for O'Neill next? At least O'Neill knows what he is doing !!!! Actually, Keith Harris and Orville would be a better option than the current occupant.
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Ipswich24 added 13:03 - Oct 20 We are going backwards again Keane blasted fans saying we didnt play that badly on sat yet makes six changes that is too many we were good at start of season as had close knit team fair enough had injuries but now he is back to changing team every game it will do us no good at all we need width in team we need creativity and goals
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Vexorg added 13:19 - Oct 20 "Did anyone think we would get Roy Keane when Jim left?" Whoppit, that was far too awful to contemplate. Sadly these thigns happen. Right now I'm worrying who the three sides worse than us will be come May 8th. Again, it's too awful to contemplate
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Surco72 added 13:25 - Oct 20 Whoppit.. ONeill maybe a stretch too far but what about Curbishly ,his Charlton sides always played good passing football ,and good friends with the chairman . I cannot see any players improving under the year of Keanes guidance and that is the real worry .Big signings from the premier league have not really shone or stood out and two of his expensive signings have been major flops IMO

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whoppit added 13:36 - Oct 20 I wonder if there is a reason that Curbishley is not yet back in football?? He is one of those who seems destined to vanish just like George Graham, Jim Gregory, Glenn Hoddle and David O'Leary. Maybe O'Neill is unrealistic and I wouldn't be surprised if he goes to Liverpool before the season is out. Hodgson maybe? There is always Mowbray and please god - no Gary Megson although he may be going to Middlesbrough poor devil. At this point, I believe anyone could do a better job at Ipswich ahead of Roy Keane. He has had his chance and failed. Time for someone else to have a go. And we DON'T have bad players either but I have no faith in Keane getting the best out of them with his Sargeant Major attributes. At least we know that Keano will not get employed anywhere else in future. One promotion (after 80 million spent) in 5 seasons is NOT a good record. Hopefully no other fans will have to put up with this crap after he leaves.

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Moisha added 14:03 - Oct 20 Ipswich24 - I agree, at the start of the season we were mainly playing 4-3-3 attacking well, scored 3 at Boro', 2 at Palace, and 2 against Bristol. Should have beat Burnley and were all thinking he's sorted it out. Then for some reason he got lot's of midfielders in and he's trying to accommodate them all and the forward play is suffering.
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Ipswich24 added 14:44 - Oct 20 Moisha exactly we need a settled side not changing every match no good for anyone
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Phlooky added 14:57 - Oct 20 I have backed Keane until now bit am beginning to wonder. He says "final ball needs to improve" yet I see that Garvan 'made' both goals scored by Palace against Nodge last night! When he was with us Garvs had the highest number of assists (i.e. final balls) in the club and yet Keane was determined to get rid of him. Does not compute.
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Ipswich24 added 15:05 - Oct 20 Keane does not like proper footballers for some reason strange that because as a player always played with exceptional footballers
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brittaniaman added 16:04 - Oct 20 WE must get a result at Notts. otherwise if things went horribly wrong we could be down as far as 14th sitting above Portsmouth, does not bare to think of does it??? SO PLEASE PLEASE LET US GET A WIN ON SAT. COYB !!!!!
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