Blues boss Roy Keane admitted that his side are a long way from the play-offs after Sunday’s dismal 4-1 derby defeat at Norwich. The Town manager is concerned that with some tricky fixtures coming up, his side could drop even further down the table from their current position of 16th.

Keane said: “At the moment I don’t think we’re capable of going on a run like we’ve seen from other teams, Burnley and Derby for example. I’ve been saying for a month now that we’re only a few points off the play-offs, but if anything that gap’s going to get wider because we’ve got a tough run of games.

“We’ve got injuries andwe don’t look like we’re going to score many goals, so we’re a long way off the play-offs yet.”

The Blues boss says last season’s poor run was his hardest time in management and that he constantly looks at his own performance: “It was pretty tough last year when we didn’t win for 14 games, but the expectation this year was that it would be better. I analyse my position every day, whether we’ve won three or four or lost one or two, whatever it might be. That doesn’t change.

“We’ve got to try and turn things around and it’s not going to get any easier. We’ve got West Brom on Wednesday.”

Keane believes the line-up he fielded at Norwich was decent enough: “I think our starting XI was pretty strong, I’ve been saying for the last few months that we’ve got too many young players. I think it was an experienced team, no Tom Eastman as he’s injured, as are Luke and Connor.

“But going down to 10 men made it very hard for us. Having said that, you still have to get punished for it and Norwich are a good team and are in good form and they punished us.

“When it was 2-1 we dropped back a little bit and tried to soak up the pressure. Having lost a centre-half, we had to reshuffle and we missed Jack Colback in midfield, so it had a massive knock-on effect.

“They put us under a bit of pressure, put a lot of balls in the box and they’re pretty good at that anyway, even if we’d had 11 players. A tough afternoon all round for everyone.”

Chief executive Simon Clegg gave Keane his backing just over a week ago, but the Irishman says he’s aware that patience eventually runs out: “I think we’ve heard that from clubs before about managers and the next day they’re gone. I take any comments that might come with a pinch of salt.”

Moving on to Wednesday’s Carling Cup quarter-final against West Brom, Keane says he’s not sure who will be in his squad: “God knows what players we’ll have for Wednesday. We’ve a lot of injuries, suspensions, two or three players who started today won’t be available because they’re cup-tied. It’s going to be tough. West Brom could come down and flex their muscles.

“They had a pretty good weekend, winning 4-1, and they have a chance of getting to a semi-finals. It’s another big game for us on Wednesday, but we’ve had a decent cup run, although this is the first time we’ve played a team from a higher league.

“We’ll find out a lot about our players on Wednesday in terms of their characters and personalities because we question them all the time, asking, ‘what have you got?’. We’ll know a bit more about the group on Wednesday.”

Photo: Action Images

moomoosereni added 12:02 - Nov 29 RKeaneisagod are you having a laugh!!!!!!!!???? Yes you might be right that playing 4-5-1 could have got us the 0-0 draw. Where is the ambition though! And I've got a funny feeling and correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Marcus Evans buy this club and state that the main target was to get back into the Premier League?! Are you mental? You think that they would tell Keane his targets, as opposed to last season was to reach the last 16 of a cup, develop the youth and avoid relegation!!!!!??? WHY ON EARTH WOULD THEY DO THAT WHEN THEY HIRED HIM TO GET PROMOTION!!!?? You my friend need to start saying what we know you want to, and that is that you want to change your profile name and you cant stand the sight of Roy Keane anymore like the rest of us. You are on your own me thinks if you don't.

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BasilSmallpiece added 12:08 - Nov 29 Morning GITS! (copyright B Smallpiece 1969). Glad to see my global FORK campaign is gaining traction. At last the scales are falling from true supporters' eyes. Now is the time to take firm action to drive the appalling Keano away from Ipswich. Don't go to the West Brom game! I know it's a tough decision and a little unfair on honest players. But it is necessary to demonstrate the true depth of feeling in Ipswich. If you can't avoid going, then take a plastic picnic FORK with you and hurl it on to the pitch. A thousand FORKs will surely send Keano the message that he is not an Ipswich manager and is not wanted anywhere near Portman Road. And when he effs off, he can take nice-but-dim Sheepshanks with him! FORK! POMS! COYB!

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Roystheboy added 12:12 - Nov 29 I am SO SO glad we are on the TV again on Saturday, the entire footballing world can see how tactically inept our leader is. Saturday would be the best time to demonstrate the feelings of the fans not at WBA, although I do feel the same as everyone else on here it makes me wonder what the hell the goons who sit next to Keane talk about while the game is in play. Not that I want to focus on anyone player but Colin Healy!!!!!!! You have Jake Livermore on the bench and you bring Healy on (who turns games!!!) what the F*ck is that all about......... The players who played yesterday with the exception of Norris lacked PASSION, we have no Holland, Venus, Magilton, Wilnes etc etc etc We need players and a manager who are passionate about the club and not just here for a meal ticket, its about time Evans showed himself and come out from behind the muppet Clegg and told us EXACTLY whats going on. While there are lots of calls on here for Alan Curbishley my view is that he has been away from football for to long and would have lost the cutting edge, we need someone with commitment and drive to takes where we want to go, someone who will bleed Blue and White, now whoever that person is he needs to employ a past player, Holland for instance would fit this roll extremely well. Martin O'Neil with Matt Holland, its like Garlic Bread....... THE FUTURE!! Thanks for reading.

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GiveusaWave added 12:16 - Nov 29 Roykeaneisagod and the truth Simply put, we are fed up with boring "Lets punt it up the pitch and run" football. We shouldn't be PLAYING FOR A 0-0 DRAW!!!!! Would Magilton have played for a 0-0 draw? NEVER! WE ARE FED UP OF BORING FOOTBALL AT A HIGH PRICE!!!! Yes, Mourinho plays defensive,- difference is he has the players to do it!!!! Truth- what you are saying certainly isn't the truth. The support is there,- there is just NOTHING to sing about. Curbishley in charge with Holland as Assistant Give the new manager and assistant £3m to spend in January Get rid of these "lob it up and run" footballers (most of them are up for contract soon) Bring back O'Connor!!!! Hire some decent scouts/info networkers (how come Ramsey and Lansbury went out on-loan and we didn't even TRY to sign them?) and most importantly........... Get rid of our bully of a boss......

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NorthblueBen added 12:21 - Nov 29 Thanks Roy, what will you say on wednesday night then? sort it you have made us a laughing stock again
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Mark added 12:23 - Nov 29 It seems from Keane's comments that he has no confidence in his players to get out of the mess we're in, and it is surely impossible to leave someone like that in a management role. It is the manager's job to motivate the players and make them believe in themselves. Keane however seems to knock confidence out of people. How can the likes of O'Connor, Hyam, Peters and Townsend be feeling after being left out so much recently. Keane said Peters did "OK" for the reserves like he said Smith did "OK" in the World Cup...how about boosting these players' belief a little bit!? I am checking this website regularly for the story we all want: that Keane has been sacked. Let's do it before the West Brom game so everyone is 100% behind the team on Wednesday. Put Kiwomya in charge for a couple of games while we get a new manager sorted out.

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TOWNNNNNN added 12:23 - Nov 29 Basilsmallpiece don't go then, why don't you go carrot road from now on, there doing well, hey why not just go support Chelsea or a Manchester team, england are cr@p atm so why not become Spanish! Doosch bag! Let's support our team for christ sake!!! COYB. Oh and FORK!
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blrmy added 12:25 - Nov 29 Thetruth well said. I'm not defending Keane as he is being judged on results, like any manager, and so the comments on here don't surprise me. However... two dreadful mistakes from our defenders (actually there were more) set the foundation for the game on Sunday. Let's not overlook their contribution to the end result. And other players didn't step up to the mark, but no point in repeating that in detail. PS. Curbishley? Really? Although to be honest whoever's in charge, we'll only have the usual divide over him. Don't pretend, it happened with Burley, Magilton, and obviously happening with Keane. Win a few, people cheer. Lose a few, people boo. Boring!

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arc504 added 12:27 - Nov 29 Roy Keane is an intelligent man. He now knows that he is not going to be a successful manager and will be expecting to leave at the end of the season. Marcus Evans too needs to save face. Keane will be thinking about a career beyond football management. Do not be surprised if he is retained as an advisor ( salesman) for Marcus Evans plc. In any event I suspect he will stay in Suffolk so that his girls can finish their education in Framlingham. With £20m in the bank , and with interest rates at only 3% he still has £600,000 in interest to live on each year. Whatever he does after football management be assured that his departure from PR will be managed with some finesse.

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goat_man added 12:38 - Nov 29 ultimate irony is, we actucally had a really good start to this season and were going to end up relegated! Last season we had a dismal start and survived! Ho hum, Jingle bells everyone
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bobble added 12:40 - Nov 29 is he gone yet ?
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bluelady added 12:43 - Nov 29 what a classic, we are a long way off the play off, your BL**Dy telling me!!!! about 10 places..... now tell me how far are we off the relegation zone!
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Walk_the_Wark added 12:43 - Nov 29 You still here?? FORK!!!!!!
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ChurchmanBlue added 12:47 - Nov 29 You've got to feel a bit sorry for RK. Let's face it, he is not the first great player that couldn't cut it as a manager, and I think from the tone of his comments, he is waking up to this fact. Not sure who I'd get to replace him. Curbishley is out of touch, and Holland never got his shorts dirty for the club, so the likelihood of him leaving his cushy number with the BBC is remote. What we definitely need is someone who has had some experience in making silk purses out of sows ears, not been priveliged enough to walk into a top managerial position due purely to a good playing career.

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metalhead added 12:48 - Nov 29 Perhaps Keane /is/ the reason for our poor performances and results, but I'm convinced the main reason is our players are either rubbish or not putting in 100% effort. The last time I saw ITFC string a couple of games together playing with 100% effort was when Burley was manager. To be honest, I don't think we'd be in an any different position now whatever manager we could've had taking over from Magilton, perhaps with the exception of a four or five Premiership managers. Let face it, our squad has been a mess since we was relegated from the Premiership. Yes, I'm also losing faith with Roy and wondering if we'd be better off with another manager, but I honestly cannot see it being much different with another manager, especially of the calibre we're likely to attract. I think you need at least four Premiership quality players (of the quality that would regularly play) in a team to have a good chance of getting promoted to the Championship. Yes, there are a handful or quality players in the Championship that haven't played in the Premiership, but we won't get them because we won't pay the going rate (because we cannot afford it). As much as it pains me to say it, looking at our squad, I think we're probably in the correct position. If Marcus Evans wants to see us in the Premiership then I suspect the only way he's going to see that any time soon is if he takes a gamble and gets a few 4+ million players — but I don't think he will despite his wealth.

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whippet added 12:49 - Nov 29 Can't wait for Keane to go. If Evans is worried about the support, he is going to lose lots more young supporters the way we are playing. Why encourage any child to support our team and its dull as dishwater football? I would rather watch grass grow than watch our team on a Saturday Afternoon. I have known better days watching the tumble dryer. FORK!! Don't know if this is going to get the message across. Demonstrations outside the ground on week days is always good for press coverage (Keane Out banners and stuff)

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ChurchmanBlue added 12:52 - Nov 29 You've got to feel a bit sorry for RK. Let's face it, he is not the first great player that couldn't cut it as a manager, and I think from the tone of his comments, he is waking up to this fact. Not sure who I'd get to replace him. Curbishley is out of touch, and Holland never got his shorts dirty for the club, so the likelihood of him leaving his cushy number with the BBC is remote. What we definitely need is someone who has had some experience in making silk purses out of sows ears, not been priveliged enough to walk into a top managerial position due purely to a good playing career.

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bluelady added 12:55 - Nov 29 meatalhead one word BLACKPOOL
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itfc4eva added 13:01 - Nov 29 we are only 3pts or so from P-O. the way we played against Norwich was appaling
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SammyT added 13:04 - Nov 29 TheTruth = Spot on. Cant argue with people who are talking about boycotting the WBA game, or turning backs etc. You have the right to express yourselves. Not me though, through the Highs & Lows.
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cambsman added 13:05 - Nov 29 rkeaneisgod have you missed an o in your rkeaneisgod !! points to your comments (a }Are you are talking about highly paid footballers unable to play with two up front in a game against Norwich and not able to defend at he same time well I never (b) We love you Ipswich that is the point we do and that is why supporters are getting so upset
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simonsays added 13:07 - Nov 29 He is right! Why does everyone think we have some divine right of being in them and blame Keane if were not?
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crazyblue added 13:08 - Nov 29 just gooooooooo keane....... I called sunday a week go..... Regardless of the sending off, crap defending or poor tactics, the players obviously dont want to play for him. Dont want to admit it, but maybe what Walters has been saying the press lately is true..... Some is fundementaly wrong! Norwich looked so up for it. Lambert is a proper manager, Keane is no better than my sunday league manager! All you fans that keep saying support the team, give him a chance...... I would take Jo Royle back yesterday. At least we attacked and looked like scoring. Yesterday's powder puff performance (on national TV again - Newcaste last year) has just made us an even bigger laughing stock. If I was a player looking for a move to another club, I woud be telling my agent to tell Ipswich to clear off if they came in trying to sign me.....! We are going nowhere and the sooner we all wake up and smell the coffee the better. Keane out! Save our club!

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Skip73 added 13:19 - Nov 29 I was behind Keane and kept saying leave off him he will get it right, but now I join the anti Keane brigade. KEANE OUT!!! If he doesn't go we'll be relegated.
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NathItfc added 13:25 - Nov 29 Wouldn't mind league one, it would get rid of a lot of fickle glory hunters.
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