Manager Roy Keane says that despite the Blues’ lowly position in the Championship he doesn’t blame his players. Keane feels his team is performing well, even if they aren’t taking their chances, but he says he has also made mistakes this season.
The Blues boss said: "I have to say, I can’t really fault them. That sounds crazy. I’ll have to look at myself and say ‘Why aren’t I winning them football matches?’. I think I’m the one who needs to be doing better, not the players.”
Keane says there are occasions that he looks back on this season when he feels he should have done things differently, including Tuesday’s match against Peterborough: "I put the two subs on and we went too long. Maybe I should have gone with one off the front.
"I remember when we were 3-1 up at Sheffield United we should have changed the shape then. When we were 3-2 up against Doncaster in the last few minutes we maybe should have changed it then too. You always have to look at yourself and your own performances.
"If players are missing chances, there’s not much I can do about that, but there are the fine details and I could have got them a bit better the other night.”
The Town manager feels that his team’s improved performances will ultimately lead to better results: "I think they are giving their best, but we need to start putting the ball in the back of the net, but that will come.
"We’re doing a lot of good stuff and when you keep doing the right stuff it will come for you.
"People on the outside might think we’re playing negative football, we’re playing five in midfield, but I think we’re playing some decent stuff. Second half the other night I don’t think we were that great but we still had three or four great chances and we scored a legitimate goal which was disallowed.
"Things are falling into place now and that’s when you have to continue doing the right things and eventually it will happen. It isn’t at the moment, but maybe it will against Blackpool.”
Keane is grateful for the continued support from the majority of supporters: "The fans have been brilliant, I’m very, very lucky in that sense and hopefully they’ll get behind us against Blackpool. We all need to give them a boost, we’ve certainly not done it in terms of winning games.
"I can talk all day about performances and creating chances blah, blah, blah, but supporters want results. I appreciate that and we’ll try and give them that on Saturday.
"We do appreciate the support. We certainly don’t take it for granted whether at home and away because we know it’s not cheap.”
A victory today against Blackpool could take the Blues out of the bottom three, while a draw may be enough if Sheffield Wednesday fail to win.