Town boss Roy Keane says he’s not getting carried away by the Blues’ three successive wins, just as he wasn’t panicking when his side lost three on the trot. The Carling Cup defeat of Northampton has been followed by league victories over Millwall and Sheffield United which have taken Town to sixth in the Championship.

Keane said: “A week or two ago everyone was panicking and just as you don’t panic when you lose, you don’t get carried away when you win.

“A few weeks ago when we lost three on the spin I was saying we hadn’t played particularly badly, but you need a bit of luck. Tamás has got the first goal and then it was a good finish from Gareth and we’ll take it. It was a hard won three points.

“On another day we could have lost. I think we probably played a lot better at Sheffield United last year when we had a number of opportunities and at 3-1 up we were coasting.

“But I think when you come to Sheffield United you can never relax. I think it was good from their point of view that their players never stopped going, credit to them for that. They never let their heads dropped."

The Blues boss felt his side did well from corners and freekicks: “Damien had a free header in the first half, but then again we were under pressure in the second half from Sheffield United’s set pieces.

“I think the second goal came from a second ball in after a corner, so I think our set plays weren’t bad. You can talk all day about movement and delivery, but you’ve got to have that desire to get in there and Gareth had that. I think he scored here from a corner here last year.

“It’s an area where we’re improving slightly. We had some good chances last week at home to Millwall, two or three free headers from six or seven yards out when the ball’s gone over the bar.”

Keane was pleased with the way his defenders coped, particularly in the later stages of the game: “The defence were under a lot of pressure and towards the end we gave them one or two half chances when we gave the ball cheaply, like when the boy was pulled down on the edge of the box.

“The back four were under a lot of pressure and they did a decent job, which is what they’re paid to do.”

Meanwhile, Derby County will be without central defender Dean Leacock when they visit Portman Road on Tuesday as the former Fulham man is suspended having reached five bookings. Fellow defenders Russell Anderson (groin) and Jake Buxton (back) are also out.

Better news for the Rams is that another defender Miles Addison is back in the squad after 10 months out with a foot injury, although he is unlikely to start.

Frontmen Alberto Bueno and Luke Moore - reportedly a player targeted by the Blues before he joined Derby on loan from West Brom - are also unavailable due to ankle and hamstring injuries respectively.

Photo: Action Images

legoman added 09:32 - Nov 8 Time to try wickham and priskin as the 1-1 in front of the rest?
0

brian_a_mul added 09:47 - Nov 8 I think Wickham doesnt deserve a place in the starting line up, legoman. Priskin and Scotland are playing very well together and should continue up front, barring injuries. Wickham is a great player to bring on for last 20 minutes to run the tired defenders ragged. Derby have concerns over their defense with Leacock out. Two up front is a must! Bueno and Moore are also out which may mean that Kuqi may start! Midfield is going to be key. Savage and Green have been outstanding so far for Derby and our midfielders will need to be aggressive in the middle. Leadbitter & Norris should be able to cope well enough in there! If we can win that battle we have a great chance for 3 pts.

0

webside added 10:21 - Nov 8 Completely agree with you brian, Priskin and Scotland have been a good pairing and will get even better once we stop hoofing the ball over the top of them and play to their feet, or even their bodies. Wickham is a good player to bring on as his strength and pace will definitely test the tiring defenders. Really pleased to see Priskin showing something at last. I don't think his posture helps peoples perception of him, as he comes across as though he can't be bothered, but he's got a good touch and links up very well with Scotland.

0

dirtydingusmagee added 10:49 - Nov 8 Legoman ,we have been crying out for a settled side for months!I have not had much faith in Priskin,but he do's seem to be getting it together,and signs are that alongside Scotland,they could work well.Why try Wickham ?
0

SouperJim added 11:00 - Nov 8 I think you have to stick with Scotland at home, although on radio suffolk Mathie said he looked tired and didn't have his usual impact on the game at the weekend, so maybe Wickham will get his chance. I'd expect to see him second half anyway. As others have said, Derby are strong in the middle, Savage Green and Commons are as good as any in the division. Sounds like they have some issues in both boxes though, lets hope we can keep them quiet as a positive result against Derby would give us a real springboard for winnable games against Barnsley and Hull...

0

BlooooCD added 11:17 - Nov 8 Yep! I am sticking with Scotland and Priskin.. There seems to be something working well with those two... And Connor is brilliant when the opposition have had those two to contend with... If it ain't broke, It doesn't need fixing! What it needs is supporting! COYB's!
0

nthstd added 11:20 - Nov 8 I have to say that tomorrow night against a Derby side that are really banging them in is going to be a test for us. I can see us playing out a hard won 0-0 or nicking it , but there is no way on this planet that Derby will squader the chances Millwall did. We sat very deep at some points in our recent games, holding a midfield defenceive line that was far to close to our back line. We need to disrupt incoming midfield play long before it is within crossing ranges of what can become a very crowded and chaotic Ipswich box. I seriously hope he sticks with Priskin and Scotland up front, this appears to have all the makings of a good/grest attacking PARTNERSHIP.

0

onlyone added 11:32 - Nov 8 I have to say i agree with legoman! The question is why not give Wickham his chance to Start? He has been pushing and pushing and he should be given his chance! Scotland was not at his best on Sat and looked lacking in most areas, an off game maybe, but also may be its time he had a rest as he has started every game. IMO with Wickham you get hunger, Strength, skill and pace the whole package so resting and changing one of the front two will not make a difference at all.

0

olimar added 11:32 - Nov 8 Priskin and Scotland are not a great partnership. Priskin is playing well, Scotland isnt playing particularly well. Scotland is scoring and Priskin is scoring, thats about it. They arent scoring goals because they are a good partnership. They dont feed each other.
0

sonian_blue added 11:43 - Nov 8 I wouldnt change the front two and agree with most the above posts that Wickham is better as an impact player in the second half. I know its probably tempting fate but I think Im right in saying we have beaten the rams on all 4 occasions since they came down? I will be playing up my winnings from Saturday on a home win. COYB Boys!!!
0

Big_Foot_Blue added 11:47 - Nov 8 Bottom Line is Scotland has scored in every home league game since he joined except QPR but on that day he didn't even get the ball cause of Shaun Derry. I'm a massive fan of Wickham and he probably does deserve a start soon but with Priskins form and Scotlands record at Portman Road I think we have to keep the two strikers. If Scotland has a bad game then give Wickham his chance against Barnsley and consider that Scotlands rest. Either way I predict a tight win tomorrow maybe a 2-1 or a 3-2. COYB!

0

nobrain added 12:02 - Nov 8 If it ain't broke....
0

Keaneish added 12:13 - Nov 8 Good news Leacock is out given our lack of strength up front, i though he was excellent against Pompey. Not sure how Keane plans to null Commons who's their danger man. Kuqi isn't going to be any problem for Mac or Delaney and comfortable that we can match their work rate in the middle. Going to be a good game tomorrrow night...
0

Fatboy added 12:50 - Nov 8 nthstd, Derby might be banging them in at home, but they've only scored 7 in 7 away from home, winning 2, drawing 2 and losing 3. On their last outing they lost 2-0 at Millwall. Let's hope we can continue the trend of scoring an early goal and really put Derby on the back foot before they have a chance to get going.
0

leadbitter6 added 12:52 - Nov 8 Why should Wickham get his chance to start if the partnership of Scotland and Priskin is working well at the moment, no need to change it. Let him come on for the last 25-30minutes and run there defence ragged then.
0

whoppit added 12:57 - Nov 8 Keane IN (for now)
0

bleedblue added 13:01 - Nov 8 Surely we will get a good crowd tomorrow night?
0

Skip73 added 13:27 - Nov 8 Whoppit? are you feeling well mate? Joking aside, we should keep Priskin and Scotland, they're looking good at the moment, yes Scotland had an off day on Sat but his home form is blinding
0

legoman added 13:30 - Nov 8 I'm not one for a completely settled team (the main core yes) but I prefer Keano's philosophy of picking the most hungry and determined and that can be fluid like any employee. Also I would hate to have a tean so settled that when an injury crisis happens we hav'nt got the players at the standard required to step in. Squad teams every time for me!
0

Keaneish added 13:39 - Nov 8 Agree with you there Legoman. The nucleus of the team is there: Fulop, Delaney, Mac, Leadbitter, Norris, Edwards and Scotland. The other 4 places are still up for grabs obviously dependent on injuries and formation changes but we've a good core of versatile players now. A good healthy squad...mostly.
0

Back_The_Boss added 13:40 - Nov 8 I would only get carried away with 5 straight wins. 2 big games with Derby and Barnsley, COYB!
0

whoppit added 13:46 - Nov 8 1-0 TOWN vs Derby
0

meekreech added 15:55 - Nov 8 I cant get over all this positive posting by Whoppit !
0

Ipswich24 added 15:57 - Nov 8 The only change should be Townsend coming in he is a must running at defenders causing panic so our strikers have more of a chance i cant believe Keano is not picking him wont do us any favours of securing him permantly will it! But probably wont be interested because he is an attacking talent not a plodder!
0

cobbold_fanatic added 00:20 - Nov 9 I kept calm after those defeats we always lose at forest and watford its a predictable as the changing of the season!
0

Blogs 297 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls