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

Lightningboy added 13:27 - Nov 29 We're not a long way off of the play-offs you twerp...what we are a long way off of is having a man in charge who knows how to put a decent football team together...honestly,what on earth are Keane,Clegg & Evans doing at this club if this is what they seem to be content with? Back to where we were all of last season..it's pathetic.
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Keaneish added 13:28 - Nov 29 Plastic Forks at the ready.....FORK!
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yorksblue added 13:45 - Nov 29 If he won't come to us and explain what he's up to, we'll go to him. marcus evans (London) 11 Connaught Place London, W2 2ET,
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MonterreyBlue added 13:46 - Nov 29 An interesting week coming up. Mr Keane, stating the obvious "we are a long way off the play-offs" and actually, a lot closer to relegation and given our current form / morale, going to get a lot closer. Well, this week we have a chance to make a Cup Semi-Final for the 1st time in a long time, lets see how we approach the match with formation and tactics, how the match develops and what changes Roy makes....as he said "we are still making the same mistakes as the day i walked thru the door"..... well, so is he!! Therefore something has to give!! Easy week, nothing to lose as we all lost hope anyway. 2 full-backs, 2 wingers and 2 strikers please Roy and for once....take the game to them and attack. Also, interesting to see how many people spend their hard earned wages on this one... Come on Town.

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Suffolk_n_Good added 13:46 - Nov 29 Keanes tone sounds to me like he's knows his time is up & he himself wants out, but, he knows he can't walk out on another club, & why would he walk away from his hugh salary, he's making it publically known that he wants out, but needs Clegg & Evans to push him, will they?......
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Thetruth added 13:47 - Nov 29 Guentchev that is rubbish, even when there is something to sing about there has never been true atmosphere, our home noise is embarrasing and you know it....! We will not attract another high profile manager, you can be sure of that, and even if an old ipswich player took over, there is no one on this board if it wasnt going his way that wouldnt be calling for his head after a year. All these people giving ex ipswich players a 5 year timeline for promotion is a joke, the pressure pot of getting to the premier league is too much, face facts we are not good enough and have no divine right to be in the Premier league, thats a fact! Get used to the championship, were here for a long time no matter who the boss is.......AGAIN I PITY THE NEXT MANAGER

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Back_The_Boss added 13:50 - Nov 29 We are a very long way off it. I'm pesimistic but we are only 4 points off the relegation zone. Keane has to go.
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Reuser31 added 13:58 - Nov 29 I'm sick and tired of Keane's no sh*t comments, he put together this squad at relatively great expense and now he's admitting they're not up to scratch. I'd happily drive him to any other club in Europe just to get him out of Portman Road KEANE OUT
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Bergholtblue added 14:05 - Nov 29 We dod not have a divine right to be in the Premiership, but as paying customers we do have a right to demand entertaining football. As Delia [cough spit] said on telly, all the demand is that the players go out and play their best. That's what I want from a manager, someone who will motivate the players into giving their all. If we lose, we lose, I don't expect to win every game, but I do want to see us going down fighting. Look at Warnock and Holloway, that is all they do. Publicly back their players and say how wonderful tey are. Not go the press and say there are 6 players who will never play for the club again (then play them anyeway because there was no-one else) Roy Keane has lost the plot, if he ever had one and it is time to go. I've nailed my colours to the Martin O'Neill mast, but if he would not be willing to drop (and I don't see why not if we gave hime the same contract as Keane), then I am sure Gus Puyot and Tarrico would join us. We have gotta have better prospects than Brighton anyday.

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Martus added 14:07 - Nov 29 Im not Keanes biggest fan. But the Norwich game cant just be blamed on him, some of the defending was dreadful. The defenisive line was all over the place, which caused the second goal. Poor choices from the defenders and some very good pressure from Holt caused the others. O'Dea had a real stinker and these indidual errors were the reason for the loss. Keane put out a side which we all would be happy about, but when the players get on the pitch, its their responisbilty to get the result. Sure some of subsitutions were odd, but we needed to try and defend in the second half, which we did well, and Keane went for the equaliser by bringin Fallon on late on. I feel we played well with 11 men, and were unlucky with the red card. Sure 4 losses in a row and 9 losses out of 11 games is not good enough, but Keane is not to blame for this one. . . . . . . . . . . . . still want him out though.

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thebeat added 14:13 - Nov 29 Churchmanblue your comment about Matt Holland never getting his shorts dirty for the club are total betty swollocks, he was an inspirational captain and and outstanding footballer who gave 110% every time he pulled the blue shirt on, your obviously a jonny cum latelt fan cus you cant have wtached him play for us
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itfckieren added 14:14 - Nov 29 Utter utter rubbish!! The fans could run this club better than Keane. Why couldnt Colback have played at left back like he did at some parts of last season? Or even get O'connor in there? Not a massive fan of O'dea or Smith.. Why get a decent winger in Townsend in on loan & never give him a run in the team? Anyone but Leadbitter please, he is awful.. Colback in there? Livermore? Colin Healy?! Are you sure.. i thought Gareth Barry was slow but my god. I'm sick of this one up front malarky aswell.. Why get Fallon in when he opts for a 4-5-1.. CLUELESS!!

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Bergholtblue added 14:15 - Nov 29 I think Churchman blue is mistaking Matt Holland for Jermaine Wright
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PablosRightBoot added 14:18 - Nov 29 Follow follow follow! Follow the boys with Keano! When the scum play Man U we'll be playing the U's so follow the boys with Keano!
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adamisablue added 14:18 - Nov 29 play-off a long way off? we are not far from becoming a league 2 club with you in charge keane! look, you have a two year contract in which you promised promotion. by your own admition we are a long way off. your contract is not getting re-newed (evens and clegg would be f=-2king insane if they did!) you dont need the money, please roy, your destroying itfc, your going to get uselegatd atthis rate (probably meaning evens walks, admin, 20 point penatly and "star plaers" walking) you have not delivered, nor will you for the rest of your term. if you analise your position everyday, you will relise that it has become un-tenuable, and the players and fans dont want you anymore. please just leave and let someone else save us from relegation. any reasnoable manager would...oh wait, i forgot who im aiming this at....

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thebeat added 14:18 - Nov 29 Bergholtblue you must be right, but if he is thats a shocking mix up, obviously not a true fan
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dirtydingusmagee added 14:19 - Nov 29 just seen Keane on news,he didnt even say we are looking to ''bounce back''...seeing a couple of glimpses of him in dugout he didnt look remotely interested, and that was a derby game, any of our previous managers would have been on their feet and kicking ass even J M ,Keane is so far detached from ITFC he is in another galaxy.
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byebyesheepshanks added 14:24 - Nov 29 The Truth. A plank.
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yorksblue added 14:27 - Nov 29 He's on the budgies payroll, surely! In which case, he's achieved his objective and totally ba.lsed up this club.
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whoppit added 14:30 - Nov 29 At least I won't get shouted down on this one. I have been telling you all since the Plymouth debacle last year that Keano was clueless, inept and was not going to make a good manager either at Ipswich or anywhere else. I also pointed out that the Sunderland promotion was a fluke as he had Premier League players there. They barely escaped relegation and he walked out when they were in the relegation zone too !!! And what happened, I get shouted down by pro-Keano idiots who couldn't see past the "big name" Other ones who could see what was REALLY happening were shouted down too and what happened?? This club continued to go down the pan and will continue to do until Keane is sacked or walks. And here is more predictions for you. This club will be in the bottom three by Christmas if change is not made now !!!! You listening this time ME?? And Keane will leave us with some garbage when he does leave. Priskin IS crap. Scotland is a two bit Championship player. Wickham will be sold for less than 4m in January. Martin and Healy - League 2 players. A team full of loanee's including that highly rated Plymouth reject Rory Fallon. PLYMOUTH??? WTF??? At Norwich, they think champagne. At Ipswich, we think water !!!!

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byebyesheepshanks added 14:32 - Nov 29 RK is desperate to get the sack - he knows he can't cut it. He wants to leave with a nice payoff, Christmas at home & be able to say ' they fired me when we were just 5 points off the playoffs & still in the QF of the Carling Cup' . It would be a mercy sacking & his latest conference is basically asking for it. FORK
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byebyesheepshanks added 14:33 - Nov 29 At least they're 'characters' Whopitt!!
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whoppit added 14:36 - Nov 29 It's a joke. May as well put the whole team in a pantomime until the New Year. It will be more entertaining. What is worse to look at is Keane just chewing his gum yesterday while standing there clearly not giving a $hit either. Although I wouldn't either if I was worth 30million. Cleggy/Marcus - are you reading any of this or do you two not give a crap either???
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byebyesheepshanks added 14:39 - Nov 29 He wanted to sign Mary Byrne for obvious reasons but We're getting talented Brazillian Wagner in on loan
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dirtydingusmagee added 14:46 - Nov 29 churchmanblue,you should have gone to SpecSavers that was ''sweatybetty'' one of the cleaners not Matt Holland .I really cant believe any real Town supporter would be on here slagging him off,especially in present circumstances, the only player now with any real ''Town '' flowing through his veins is Gareth McAuley,we missed him Sunday,but think result was inevitable .

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