x

Keane: We Didn\'t Deserve to Lose - Ipswich Town News

Boss Roy Keane felt his side didn’t deserve to lose their fourth round FA Cup tie at Southampton, but thought they weren’t good enough to win it. In addition to the defeat, skipper Jon Walters could miss the next few games with a hamstring injury.

Keane said: "The players know they have wasted a good opportunity to go further in the competition.

"I did not think we deserved to lose the game but we certainly did not do enough to win it.

"We played well in the last 15 minutes but the game starts at three o'clock and not 20 to five.

"The starting 11 was very good so nobody can accuse us of taking Southampton lightly but our performance was not up to the standard I expect."

"Credit to their player for the first goal, it was a wonder strike but the second goal was very disappointing.

"Pablo gave us a chance with a goal late on and we had a couple of opportunities after that but it was too little, too late.

"We started playing a bit after we were two goals down but it's easy to do that, I want my players to be brave on the ball when it's goalless."

The Blues boss revealed that Jon Walters could be out of action for a few weeks after picking up an injury which forced him off at half-time: "Jon Walters felt his hamstring in the first half and he could miss a few games."

Keane had no criticism for referee Andy Hall ruling out Town’s ‘goal’ from Carlos Edwards’s throw-in, which Pablo Couñago claimed to have touched: "I have not spoken to the referee about it and I don't know if anyone touched it but the referee made his decision and I have no problem with that.”

Southampton boss Alan Pardew thought it was a good cup tie: "It was a hotly contested tie between two evenly matched teams and we had to dig deep.

"Ipswich have got some good young players, who get around the pitch very well and we struggled to cope with that in the first half.

"Wayne's goal was a bit of a surprise to me but he played well today and deserved his moment of glory.

"You won't see many better strikes than that in the whole competition and the second goal came at a very good time for us."

What to read next:

No Bids For Davis, Town Won't Sell This Window
TWTD understands Town have received no bids for left-back Leif Davis this summer and will not be selling him during this transfer window.
Birmingham City 1-1 Ipswich Town - Highlights
Highlights of last night’s dramatic 1-1 draw with Birmingham City at St Andrew’s.
Davies: Two Harsh Decisions
Birmingham City manager Chris Davies felt the Blues profited from two harsh decisions by referee Andrew Kitchen during last night’s 1-1 draw in the Championship’s season opener at St Andrew’s.
Forest 'Lining Up Davis Bid'
Nottingham Forest are reported to be readying a bid for Town left-back Leif Davis.
Hirst: Handball is a Handball
George Hirst felt referee Andrew Kitchen made the correct decision in awarding Town a stoppage time penalty in the 1-1 draw with Birmingham City at St Andrew’s.
McKenna: We Found a Way to Battle For a Point
Town boss Kieran McKenna felt his side found a way to battle for what he believes could prove to be an important point his side drew 1-1 at Birmingham City and revealed that the club has reported the incident in which Jack Taylor was assaulted by a fan following George Hirst’s late, late penalty to the authorities.
McKenna on Philogene, Cajuste and Hutchinson
Town boss Kieran McKenna has explained why Jaden Philogene, Jens Cajuste and Omari Hutchinson missed tonight’s 1-1 draw at Birmingham.
McKenna: Akpom Deal One All Parties Are Trying to Push Through
Town boss Kieran McKenna says his understanding is that the Chuba Akpom loan move from Ajax is something all parties are trying to push through.
Birmingham City 1-1 Ipswich Town - Player Ratings and Reports
If you saw the match, please give us your player ratings and a mini match report.
Birmingham City 1-1 Ipswich Town - Match Report
George Hirst’s 95th-minute penalty claimed an unlikely 1-1 draw for Championship favourites Town in their opening game of the season at Birmingham City. The newly promoted home side looked set for all three points courtesy of Jay Stansfield’s goal on 55 until sub Lyndon Dykes handled in the area and Hirst confidently found the net to grab a share of the point.