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Keane: Not Our Best But I\'ll Take the Win - Ipswich Town News

Boss Roy Keane admitted that his side didn’t play particularly well despite ending their 14-game winless streak by beating Derby County 1-0 at Portman Road.

Keane said: "I'm obviously pleased - it's much better than losing. It's always nice to win football matches but ironically I don't think we played particularly well. We have definitely played better this season and not got the result.

"That is probably the worst we have played for the last four or five weeks. It wasn't a pretty performance, but we'll obviously take the points.

"We started slowly and when you do that, it can be hard to get going. We were waiting for something to happen, instead of making it happen.

"I'm not sure what Wrighty was doing there but he got among 6ft 4in defenders and got his head on it. He gambled and we needed someone to do something different.

"We didn't play well but the substitutes made a difference in the second half and we perhaps just edged it.”

The Blues boss admits he was worried when Derby had a chance towards the end: "I was concerned when it fell to Bryan Hughes.

"He's a very good, technical player but if we'd conceded again it would have been hard to take. We made hard work of it and could have killed the game off.

"Tamás had a great chance, one-on-one and right in front of goal, but credit to their goalkeeper for making the save.”

The Town manager singled Asmir Begovic out for praise: "I was delighted with our keeper and he again showed he has real presence on the pitch. But I like goalkeepers who stop the ball from going into the back of the net. I'm told that Schmeichel was technically poor but Jesus, he kept the ball out didn't he?”

Keane says he is happy for the supporters after such a long run without wins: "I'm pleased for the fans because they deserved that. It's nice to get that first win but we know we have got a long way to go yet and have to look to move on from this, starting at Reading next week.

"I haven't said much to the players yet - they are probably sick of hearing me talking all the time. At least they can enjoy their Saturday night and their Sunday for the first time in a couple of months.

"But it's still only one win in 15 games, so we will be back on the training ground working hard again first thing on Monday morning.”

Derby manager Nigel Clough revealed his club looked into getting the game called off after losing 16 players through injury. The Rams were only able to name five substitutes.

Clough said: "We were looking into that but obviously if we can get a team out there that's what we have to try and do.

"If at all possible the authorities want you to play the game and we've done that. We don't like calling games off and had faith in the players we had out there to put on a performance and they did that.

"It's a defeat, but it's an encouraging one. I thought we did enough to get something from the game but when you're on a little run like we are things can go against you.

"It was an extremely spirited performance, given we were down to the bare bones, and bitterly disappointing that we should come in on the wrong end of a defeat.

"Bryan Hughes had a very good chance at the far post, their goalkeeper had a very good game and it was a case of the ball not dropping for us at the right times.

"One goal was always going to decide it but generally I thought we defended well. But it would be nice to be able to put two recognised central defenders out for a change.

"If there is such a thing as an encouraging defeat then this was probably it, but having said that I am delighted for Roy Keane. Despite our defeat, I was very pleased to see him finally win.”

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