Keane: Draw Was the Right Result Saturday, 15th Aug 2009 18:57
Town boss Roy Keane admitted that Leicester probably had the better of the chances but felt a draw was the right result after Saturday's 0-0 stalemate at Portman Road.
Keane said: "I could give lots of excuses but we're professionals and have got to do better. The positives are that we got a point and kept a clean sheet. The players hung in there when they weren't quite at the races.
"We could have got something from the game and had two or three very good chances, so we'll take the point and move on."
Reiterating that promotion is still very much his target, Keane conceded that better finishing would have given the visitors all three points: "Leicester probably had the better of the chances.
"We were disappointed with the way we played in the first half. It took a while to get going but we were brighter in the second half and a bit more solid and composed.
"In the first half we were very sluggish, though. Our passing wasn't sharp enough and the pace and angling of it wasn't right."
The Blues boss switched his side to 4-4-2 at the break and says that that sort of versatility is something which he has been working on: "We look at that every day in training and can adapt within a game.
"I knew that when we made changes at half-time it wouldn't be a problem. It all depends on the players we have available and the opposition.
"The players have got to be able to adapt to whatever we think is right on the day."
Leicester manager Nigel Pearson felt his side deserved more than a point: "We were a little bit disappointed that we didn't convert some of our chances. It would have been nice to win the game.
"We possibly shaded it, although it was a game of few chances and they put us under a bit of pressure in the second half.
"We were relatively pleased with how we applied ourselves, but whether it's a point gained or two lost I'm not sure yet.
"We played some good football, especially in the first half, but in the second they were a bit more positive.
"We've made a decent start but it's not a case of being satisfied because, even though we are new to the division, there's an air of expectation on us to achieve a place in the play-offs.
"We are one of 10 or 12 sides who will fancy their chances and that illustrates how tough this league is. I fully expect us to do well and cause a few surprises."
Photo: Action Images
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motch2009 added 16:50 - Aug 16
not encouraged by our start, i goal in 2 games. hopefully RK using first few games to sample formations and combo's of players which is fine. i still think lets really start to judge after 5 games |  | |
jerutter added 21:27 - Aug 16
Oh look at the poor performances today from: McAuley, Delaney and Healey... what do they have in common? I haven't seen a good Irish player at the club in a while and I hope Keane sees the light because unless we get a proper captain with leadership, experience and who performs consistently, we won't win games. I would personally put Richard Wright as captain, if he's fit, you will always play him and he seems to know what he's talking about. Get in Sol Campbell and Gio and we'll go up automatically (unlikely we will, but always try and be optimistic)! |  | |
devontractorboy added 00:13 - Aug 17
I must say I've never been a fan of McAuley, he makes our whole defense look unsure & jittery, bring in Bruce & play him with Pim, you don't always need experience at the back, West ham went up with 2 of the youngest & best central defenders in the Championship! We need Garvan in midfield, I still think it's early days but McAuley must go and a new captain who will lead by example, must be found......How about Walters?? |  | |
itfcboy91 added 01:21 - Aug 17
as a seson ticket holder we were poor got 2 get better dan dat if u want pro i think delaney is a donkey healy a bad buy 2 |  | |
Bluroo added 09:09 - Aug 17
We'll I think its only a matter of time before things click for us. |  | |
dobbie73 added 09:31 - Aug 17
Disappointed as I was after the game on Sat, especially with so many players underperforming, I prefer to see the positives (the few that there were, lol): 1. We didn't lose - a poor point it may have been, but we still gained a point 2. We didn't concede a goal, even though the few chance there were fell mainly to Leicester, and a slightly rickety defence STILL kept a clean sheet 3. A decent crowd, even if the atmosphere was lacking (from both sets of fans) 4. Keane has proved that there is flexibility in the team by switching to a 4-4-2 and instantly getting a better performance. On another day that initial 4-3-3 could have destroyed the opposition - just not on Saturday 5. Despite having little time to bed himself in, Priskin looked decent, and after another game or two could be lethal 6. Balkestein goes from strength to strength 7. Walters is looking leaner and fitter and more like the player of 2 years ago 8. It was sunny and I got a bit of a tan on my chops! :o) It will come good people - this was only Keano's 4th league game in charge, and some of the players have still to gel properly. Let's see how we are in a month's time and I'm sure it will be OK. Now we need to concentrate on upsetting Neil "it was a goal really" Warnock and beating Palace! I'm going for a 2-0 Town win ... |  | |
Lightningboy added 11:29 - Aug 17
Good job Jim's not still here otherwise he'd be getting lynched! Keano - you have to start playing Garvan from the off. |  | |
welshtractorboy added 11:34 - Aug 17
Spurs need money,we need Gio come on Roy need another part for our jigsaw!!! Agree we did not lose Saturday,still not happy like most with our defending. Goals will come with better supply,three games W-D-L (should have won) Come on you blues Tuesday going for a 4-1 to blues!!! Last year watched same game in a bar at Cyprus,one of our worst performances 1-1 i did my best to convert the owner into a tractor boy,who knows he may have one thing he will remember was the our dismal performance,hopefully Tuesday we will be able to see how far we have come since then,and he will be watching us win 4-1. |  | |
Eireannach_gorm added 12:46 - Aug 17
Jerutter, you forgot to add Garvan and Walters to your list (does'nt fit your theory?) Agree that McAuley should not be captain and wonder why we paid so much for a very average player. |  | |
jerutter added 16:31 - Aug 17
Walters ran his arse off like he always does and at least Garvan tried to play a decent ball - having said that Garvan is no more than an average championship midfielder, not one of our best players in my mind. Walters is English by the way, so my theory is still correct! I'm not racist, maybe an Irish player will trun up and prove me wrong, but I don't think it has got world class talent and I despise the Irish managers for going after their own countrymen first when there are so many better players for us to chase. |  | |
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