Boss Roy Keane says his side must learn to start matches more quickly after another disappointing first half at Nottingham Forest on Saturday. The Blues, who have scored only once in the first period in the league this season, were two goals behind at the break, as they had been at Watford on Tuesday.

Town improved in the second half during both games but Keane admits it’s often not hard to play against opposition teams already sitting back on leads: “Sometimes when you’re 2-0 down it’s easy to get on the ball, it’s easy to want to play and easy to be braver. You need to be ready from the first minute.

“It’s been a problem for us all season, there’s no getting away from it. We’re aware of it and opposition teams are aware of it.”

The Town boss wasn’t too displeased with the overall performance at the City Ground but was unhappy with the way the goals were conceded: “The first goal was a disappointing one, getting caught by a straightforward ball inside our full-back. We need to do better and we know that.

“Their second goal was a bit like the second goal at Watford the other night. It came from a throw-in in the Forest half. It was a bit naïve, over-playing it a touch.

“If we were guilty of anything it was over-playing it in dangerous areas. We need to threaten teams a bit more, whether it’s getting in behind them with a bit more pace.

“There was literally a minute to go to half-time and we’d have taken that because we get stronger in the second half, but we gave the goal away. People will look at it as a good goal from the boy and I wouldn’t begrudge him his bit of glory but we should have seen out the first half, the same as on Tuesday. Déjà vu.”

Keane dismissed suggestions that his players are lacking self-belief: “I don’t think that’s a problem. I think we have a good dressing room and we need to respond on Tuesday.

“It’s not as if the next game is going to be any easier than today. It’s going to be tough. There’s a place in the quarter-final of the League Cup at stake. Northampton is a big, big game for us so we need to react and respond, and I’m sure we will.”

After three successive losses the Town manager is determined not to let defeat become any more of a habit: “When you’re winning games you think you’re never going to lose and when you’re losing you can’t see another victory. What we have to do now is focus on Tuesday night.

“We’ve got Jack and Jake cup-tied, so other lads will get an opportunity. I thought young Murray did well when he came on for us, Connor did OK for us too and Livermore did well.

“We’re asking young players to do men’s jobs. We saw that at Forest, and it’s not me writing things off, but they’re physically bigger than us and they’re more experienced than us. We were up against a team who weren’t far from getting in the Premier League last year.

“We know where we’re at and I learned a lot about the team at Forest and there’s a lot of hard work ahead.”

Keane confirmed that Jason Scotland had been rested in the second half: “The plan was always for Jason to have 45 minutes. Jason’s played two full games and as we know Jason’s getting up to fitness. Connor Wickham was ready and I thought he did quite well for us. It’s about using your squad of players.”

Manchester City, Spurs and Everton were amongst the Premier League clubs to send representatives to send scouts to watch Wickham in action this week.

Photo: Action Images

whoppit added 12:25 - Oct 25 If anybody else has noticed, Keane's after match comments are very familiar. The phrase "We Must Learn to Start More Quickly" was used by our inept manager more than a few times last season. Keane should learn how to be a foorball manager is more appropriate !!!
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penguinsrus added 12:27 - Oct 25 Tuesday is a must win game ( we havent got to the quarters for years every year i can remember we loose second or third round to low division teams i say give murray a go with wickham there speed and energy against a lower division team will be good and everytime ive seen murray this season , he never give up so i say give the boy a chance Murphy Peters Macauley smith oconner (if his fit ) Edwards hyam Norris Townsend Wickham murray Sat fulop Peters Macauley smith oconner Edwards Norris coldback Townsend Wickham Scotland 442 is the way forward !!! coyb !!!!!!

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Mark added 12:37 - Oct 25 "We're asking young players to do men's jobs. We saw that at Forest, and it's not me writing things off, but they're physically bigger than us and they're more experienced than us". To think, we had a team that finished 9th and bought in Fulop, Murphy, Kennedy, Delaney, Leadbitter, Edwards, Healy, Martin, Priskin and Scotland, plus a string of loan players, yet Keane still talks as though we're little more than a youth team who can't be expected to compete. These are not the Joe Royle post-administration days!

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stinkiusminkius added 12:48 - Oct 25 Nitroblue - no we don't have a god given right but with the money spent and players at our disposal we should be the envy of most other teams in this mediocre league. Unfortunately our manager doesn't seem capable of raising us to our true potential. TheTruth - perhaps a new manager could actually get us playing half decent and show signs of improvement after 18 months and shedloads of spending. The doubts over keane and people thinking maybe it's time to go are fully founded.

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bobble added 13:16 - Oct 25 stinky you are correct
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Hermann_eats_puffin added 13:46 - Oct 25 I think that Thetruth makes some excellent points! Regarding the atmosphere at Portman Road it has been a million miles away from creating a fortress like atmosphere to spur the team on for a very long time now. Going back 15 or 20 years ago when we used to average crowds far below the number of today I would often leave the North Stand, especially after an evening game, with my ears ringing from the noise after the fans had given their full support to the team. These days it appears that many people believe that we have a god given right to win every game & constantly winge & moan at the players all game long. As well as thoughts on managers & players under performing perhaps we need to look at the grounds failure to back the team & create an intimidating 12th man atmosphere. Looking at some of the posts on 606 whilst I think this is perhaps a little unfair because our away support is generally good I think it definitely points to the need to address our failure as fans to create an atmosphere at Portman Road. 23 comments Your Vocal Support Championship Ipswich Town by smithy_33 (U7931818) 24 October 2010 I am a Forest fan and I was at the game yesterday and I was stunned about the lack of vocal support your supporters gave. You had a fairly decent following, but I can't remember one chant from your supporters after going 1-0 down, and you were very quiet at 0-0. I'm not being funny but your team needed the vocal support from you guys yesterday and all of you failed to deliver, it was pretty embarassing how quiet you lot were and considering you've started the season quite well you should of been right behind them. If you are going to get the play-off this season, you guys have to help them by chanting, applauding things that don't come off and be a massive support to your team. I know you played poorly yesterday but I think it was lack of confidence in final third from your players and even when you got in good posiitons, there was no uproar from the fans at all. If you want to see your club improve this season, you have to be vocally right behind them, because that does make a massive difference. Good luck with the rest of the season, and be more vocal please!

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jas0999 added 15:02 - Oct 25 Playing two up front will certainly help. Will give the impression to the opposition that we mean business.
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DrJeckyll added 15:53 - Oct 25 I watched the game on the net and i thought we started brightly(????). Played the ball on the ground, got hit on the break twice, first goal a superb/lucky finish and the second an absolute thunderbolt curling away from the keeper. Our final ball was disappointing a lot of the time and Leadbitter's delivery of the ball is awful, (sorry Grant) someone in the club must be able to weight a cross correctly. Murray looked lively when he came on but i thought Connor looked slow and a bit cumbersome. I was very impressed with Edwards contribution throughout the game as well, MoM for me.

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hogster1970 added 16:33 - Oct 25 omg why does keane always state the obvius, he has been saying that all season and its still the same, why are nidfield doesnt create enough quality ball to the forwards, the wide men fav and fart around rather than dilivering quality hard and fast crosses or killer passes from midfield to split the defence, 4 5 1 just doesnt work as said before, we must start now using 4 4 2 with whickam and either scotland or priskin, as all the defenders will atleats put 2 on conner leaving big holes for the other to exploit. and yes defo drop leadbitter to me he is a waist on the pitch i would rather see colbeck or hyham take his place as his deadballs are awfull , these are goldern goal scoring opotuinties and are all waisted, hard fast ball around the penalty spot is were you want it as the keeper wont come out that far and a touch from either our or the oppstion players and bingo can be in the back of the net. but hey we all no bugger all as we only suporters lol

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Ipswich24 added 16:57 - Oct 25 We need a good attacking team play 3-5-2 with attacking wingbacks and by the way colback and livermore are cup tied tues so team should be Murphy Eastman Macaulay Dellaney Edwards Oconnor Leadbitter Norris Townsend Wickham Priskin
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Wellin added 17:16 - Oct 25 We don't need to learn to start - we just need to learn to finish... and take corners ... and long throws.
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dirtydingusmagee added 18:24 - Oct 25 keane there are people on here without a job, and they could tell us what you have ,!
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itfc4eva added 09:16 - Oct 26 jaro3003 I feel that leadbitter is our set piece taker and should be included in your squad. also your spelling is awful. I'm not greatly fussed about Ipswich starting poorly, as long as they can get the wins then im happy. but I must admit, Keane will get the sack if we play like we did against forest!
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