Boss Roy Keane said he had learnt a lot about his side after Tuesday’s 3-1 home defeat to Crystal Palace. The Town manager admitted his team have a long way to go if they are to be Championship contenders this season.

Keane said: "I learned a great deal about my side and I know we've got a big challenge ahead, but then again I already knew that.

"When you concede three at home you're always going to make life difficult for yourselves. It could have been more but then we could have scored more than one.

"In defence of the players, I take full responsibility. There were new players out there, young players and a new partnership up front.

"I know as well as anyone that sometimes these things don't happen straight away in football. It takes time to click.

"There are genuine reasons why we haven't hit the ground running and it would be very tempting to make excuses.

"In glimpses we looked dangerous, but we expect better and the players demand better of each other.

"There have been a lot of expectation around the place, particularly in the summer, and it's been a reality check for us all.

"The players are aware that there is a lot of hard work in front of them and that applies to all of us. We are under no illusions and we have to take our medicine again today and move on. But hopefully there is not too much medicine to come.

"We had our chances and Owen and Jon Stead contributed to that in the second half, but we conceded three goals and two of them were bad goals to concede.

"We didn't really get going early in the second half and we were still recovering from the first goal when they scored the second, so it was always going to be hard to get something out of the game after that.

"We expressed ourselves better in the last half hour and we have to do that when we go to West Brom at the weekend."

Palace boss Neil Warnock was delighted to get the win after the misfortunes of Saturday's defeat to Bristol City: "It was nice to get the disappointment and injustice of the weekend out of the way - not just by winning but playing as we did.

"We showed a great attitude, were solid at the back and inventive in midfield. I couldn't ask for more, especially at such a difficult place as Ipswich.

"It's been a weird feeling since Saturday. When you should win a game and an unfortunate thing like that happens you can't get over it.

"But you have to put things in perspective and we only lost a game of football."

Warnock was particularly happy with former Blue Darren Ambrose, who scored two and created one: "I've always liked Darren and offered £1 million for him when he was at Ipswich.

"He's drawn the short straw in the last couple of years but he was the first person who came to speak to me in the summer.

"I said he could be influential for me and score goals and he plays with a smile on his face.

"He's not worried about making a mistake because he knows he's not going to get a rollicking from me."

Photo: Action Images

BYRNE_16 added 00:01 - Aug 19 Well its best you get back to the drawing board before saturday Roy, otherwise saturday will not be pretty viewing for the whole nation and us to see.
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dreblue added 00:05 - Aug 19 I have full confidence in Keanes abilities etc but I must say that tonight was AWFUL!! Im glad to see that Keane has highlighted Garvan for what he did when he came on. I am finding it hard to see ANY REASON to why we have signed Healy and Delaney. Delaney is by FAR the worst left back the club has ever had, I have never knows a professional player who can't pass the ball, yet alone cross it or even hit it with his weaker foot!!!!! Healy looks so slow and I can now see why he was initially going to go to a lower league side! He cant pass forward, he's slow and Danns made him look like a small kid tonight. Imagine him against Barton, Nolan, Butt and Guitierrez againts Newcastle! Sorry this is such a low comment, but i seriously cant think of anything positive to say! GOOD LUCK TO THE BOYS for saturday!! Let's its the turning point for us!

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Wozza added 00:15 - Aug 19 Delaney has not shown an ounce of commitment, bravery or guile since he joined the club and has in my opinion been the worst offender in these disappointing opening games. Jamie Peters anyone?
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devontractorboy added 00:16 - Aug 19 The expectations Mr Keane are high because of what you said pre-season. Delaney and Healy are poor buys and priskin thus far has not impressed, I know you have a good track record getting Sunderland up but lets have some reality here, already tonight one pundit on sky sports was taking the p**s out of your pre-season boasting!!! At the end of last season we had a reasonable side, look at us now, we don't do 'zonal marking' but you think we do & ok we've always been a bit light footed in midfield but we had players who could pass the ball, not repeatedly lump it up to poor old Jon Walters. Back to the drawing board Mr Keane and bloody quickly it's no good having top people like you and Mr Clegg if we play like we have this season thus far!!!! Sorry to be negative but you're in danger of turning us into a laughing stock!!! Please can we get back to playing football against West Brom COYB!!!!

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Greektractor added 00:24 - Aug 19 Don't take it out on keane, he is an honest man and admits to his errors. Three games in and we are learning a lot about out team. All that's happening is we're struggling to take shape. When we start winning games people will change their tune. Tonight was a bad result but things didn't go our way from start to finish. Bruce was brilliant, showed real passion garvan came on and played his heart out. The passion and quality is there, keep faith fans. Full credit to the north stand for producing an absolutely fantastic atmosphere from start to finish.

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finidigeorge88 added 00:29 - Aug 19 Colin Healy is technically known as rubbish could use a stronger word, delaney looked ordinary feel sorry for the strikers as they have to create everything themselves and nothing comes from the centre of the park, we need to be quicker with passing of the ball runs and show drive from midefield running at defences, we are lacking at the this at the moment but i fell/hoping dos santos will come in on loan please but i feel it will be a long way off with a host of clubs interested, and a centre midefielder with energy box to box player would work wonders with trotter or garvan playiong the holding midfielders role.

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TerryTibbs added 00:29 - Aug 19 Come on Boys. We all know you can do better and have the ability. So lets get it together and show the league that we mean business, and we are not going to take prisoners this year. Mr Keane you have the ability to take us to the top so lets try and turn it around on Saturday against West Brom. Its not going to be easy but I have faith that you and the team can do it.

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ShefTractor added 00:46 - Aug 19 Healy was invisible today. Delaney was poor. I don't agree with a previous comment about Priskin, simply because he hasn't had the chance to prove himself. Trotter didn't have a good game either and was brought down by Healy too - that combination doesn't work, they are too similar. Midfield needs some spark, Strikers looked good when they got the ball but because the midfield didn't create anything for them, they couldn't get anywhere. Priskin wants the ball in front of him to run on to, not from a long ball from Delaney or Pim. They needed a playmaker in the middle and when Garvan came on, he made a difference. Still, I think we did look good at times with Martin down the left causing trouble and Walters out right, the rest just needs to click and we'll be away. I have full confidence we can be a playoff team, just give it a few weeks. Credit to McAuley too for pulling it out the bag today after a dismal performance Saturday; and to Bruce for effort, the lad plays with passion you can't argue with. Wickham, however, needs to learn not to foul...like a young Rooney in that respect, control his temper etc (I AM IN NO WAY COMPARING THEIR ABILITY!)

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CapnBlues added 01:30 - Aug 19 When their keeper got "shot" at the other end of the pitch did anyone else notice R Wright rallying round all the players in front of him, having a word with one or two defenders...and that gutless disgrace we call a captain just stood there looking disinterested when that should be his job in the first place! R Wright or (from his passion tonight alone!) Bruce should be our captain. Even young Trotter was screaming at McAuley tonight and he's what, 20?

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Itfc_For_Life added 02:40 - Aug 19 well sorry but our captain (dont no why) mcauley is absolutely useless. hes about as good as a chocolate tea pot. i just seriously dont no why he gets played, keanes noes when a player is not capable of playing, so does he play. it should be pimm and bruce and centre back. NO MORE MCAULEY!!
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Dogsy40 added 02:45 - Aug 19 ITs not so much the losses but who we are losing to and how. Dagenham put 5 past Shrewbury last night and we scrape a 3-3 draw (admittedly a weakend squad). Cyrstal Palace have a transfer embago and weakened squad, Coventry have been tipped by some for the drop due to lack of funds, I agree with a previous reader, we could be in serious strife when we come up against THE REAL premiership contenders. Have we as supporters built our own chances up?? Are we simply an average side??? Early days though, I think the Delaney comments are overly harsh. A new squad will take time to gel, I really think we need a good creative midfielder to spark the place up and give our actacking game less of of a predictable build up. And although I have never been a huge wrap for Thatcher (I get nervous when he is near the ball!!) I think his no crap attitude is just what we need. A leader. IN Keane we trust, lift you Blues.

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Ash_TJ added 03:21 - Aug 19 Damien Delaneys is undoubtudly one of the worst footballers i've ever seen at the club. He can't run, pass, cross, has no sense of positioning .. the only thing in hs favour is the bit of stubble on his face which Keano loves as it suggests he's a bit of a hard man, which couldn't be more from the truth, he play's like a gutless fool. Probably been said before but WHY have we splashed out nearly £2M on Tamas Priskin and insisted on selling on of the brightest talents this club has ever had to Huddersfield for 200K plus a few measly add ons, who is now banging in the goals for them. Trotter, McAuley & Delaney have nowhere near the required potential to make this team go where we want it. Argh, sort it out Keano.

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Ash_TJ added 03:26 - Aug 19 And as for Healy - he does have quality, but can't be used in 4-4-2. He doesn't have the stamina and quality to do that, as shown today, ESPECIALLY playing against a player as poor as Trotter. That partnership in the middle is just cringeworthy. By all means play him in 4-5-1, but keep him away from 4-4-2. Also a mention of how pleased I am with Bruce's commitment, and level of performance this season. It should be a toss-up between him and Wright for the captaincy, who also has been great this season minus his cock-up for the first goal today. Would like to see this team against West Brom :- Wright Wright Bruce McAuley (or new cb if possible) Balkestein Healy Garvan Quinn Walters Martin Stead

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multipulemicky added 06:29 - Aug 19 Why isnt Bruce the captain?
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dirtydingusmagee added 06:55 - Aug 19 GRIM! i had hoped to be wrong,but when we were on the other channel i predicted, start of season would be poor, no significant signing,that we would finish lower than mid way, discontentment latter part of season,Roy wont see ou two years .[i think he will quit ]....Well so far its on course,preseason friendlies,were crap, [dont take any notice people were saying they are meaningless],i am Blue through and through,but it is not looking like any thing has changed, cant see any points coming in next 3 games,SO ROY YOU TALK THE TALK ,WALK THE WALK, ANY HALF DECENT MANAGER CAN FINISH HALFWAY YOU SAID,RIGHT NOW YOU HAVE A CHALLENGE .

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motch2009 added 06:56 - Aug 19 2 problems are a captain not good enough to inspire and no creativity in the middle. out wide and upfronts fine
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haynes_is_a_ledgend added 07:30 - Aug 19 well keano what i would do is take delaney of but keep bruce and skipper and pim at the back center half we should have garvin quinn and also martine and walters or peters a nice selection wickham and stead up front if any mess about take them on and priskin on or pablo so best of luck for the team and yourself and the table
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Zero2Hero added 07:56 - Aug 19 Keane Out.... Gunn IN ! Joking aside... I thought the lacklustre performances would be a thing of the past under Roy Keane. Clearly Not !
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MAVERICK added 07:58 - Aug 19 Looks like we are missing the services of - Counago, Norris, Civelli and even Thatcher big time. One thing that puzzles me - Why is Garvan not starting ? even Quinn would be better than Healy.
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steve01777 added 08:02 - Aug 19 oh dear seams to be a lot of doom and gloom on here and rightly so with all the expectations 11 days ago to what we have at the moment its not as if we have played anybody thats really any good 1 point out of 9 with 2 games played at home are defence is shockingly shoddy and the quality of balls into the box just aint good enough one good thing is that its only early days yet so plenty of time to catch up but it needs to happen NOW! we cannot play catch up for too long

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TractorMan added 08:20 - Aug 19 I'm not sure what people are seeing, but Bruce is at best a squad player. I agree he is committed, but that doesn't make you captain material. You have to be able to do your job too and while he did a few typical Bruce like tackles, he didn't track Ambrose for the 1st goal. He just isn't a right back. His 2 footed tackle towards the end on N'Diaye was also lucky not to be a straight red, even if he did get the ball. Healy was shocking and the same with Delaney. I'd like to see Delaney at CB (and maybe that is where RK bought him for?) and then a quick loanee at LB. Hopefully Saturday will see an improvement, but not holding my breath.....

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SomershamBlue added 08:36 - Aug 19 I was at the game last night and we were poor, no doubt about it. However, rather than moan and groan, I'd like to personally congratulate and thank Alex Bruce for his efforts. The man shows guts and commitment.
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Trickster added 08:42 - Aug 19 i haven't seen any games this season cause i live in Cairo but i dont rate healy at all. He isnt good enough to play in the reserves. i play manager 09 ( im 12 so dont knock me ) and i would use this formatiom with the team we have Priskin Stead Martin Walters Garvan Trotter( while norris is injured ) Delaney d.Wright McAuley Bruce R.Wright
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dobbie73 added 08:46 - Aug 19 It was an odd night last night ..... when we were bad, we were awful! But overall, I though there was better attacking play, more chances and more 'gelling' than against Leicester. I think we got punished simply because Palace are a better side than Leicester! For me, the problem is a porous midfield - the opposition can go from box to box without let or hindrance. This makes our defence overly exposed and too often pulled about, and leaves our strikers isolated and alone upfield. WHY our midfield has become so weak I dunno. It's partly the loss of Norris, but not totally. I agree with other posters that we need a creative middleman to link up with the forwards, which will give us an alternate outlet for the ball upfield. Although very disappointed with the result and some of the play, you have to give credit to the boys for their efforts in the second half, although why did they wait until they were 2-0 down to play??? the positives - Bruce was outstanding and deserves every accolade he gets, Pim is coming on nicely and I think could be a future captain, Martin and Walters had some nice incisive runs, Trotter got more involved than on Saturday, Garvan gave us some additional power in midfield, and Wright pulled off some great saves. Even the maligned Quinn got involved everywhere with his usual running around like a blue-assed fly, lol. The negatives (Healey, McAuley, Delaney especially)) have all been mentioned, and although justified, I think they are sometimes a little unfair. I think McAuley is a reasonable CB, just not sure he is a good captain. Maybe his game would improve if he were led rather than doing the leading ...? Delaney looks uncertain at times, but I think just needs to settle in - the boo boys certainly aren't helping here! I was disgusted by the amount of booing last night, especially as this is only the THIRD game, Roy is building a team with a lot of new faces, and some older faces in new positions and new formations. Give the guys a break and SUPPORT them not BOO them!! There are 43 more league games, 129 more points to play for .... we will still lose games, some maybe in a less than dignified way. But I believe that within a few more games, the team will gel and we will start to reap the reward of Keano's experience and get a few wins under our belt. Once that happens the wagons will roll and we will turn round one day and tonk someone!

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newburyblue added 09:00 - Aug 19 I can't beleive what a shocking start to the season we have had. As someone mentioned previously, its not the fact we've got 1 point from a possible 9, its the teams we've played! If we'd got WBA, Newcastle and Boro out the way then fair enough... but Coventry, Leicester and Palace (2 of them at home!), these are teams that will struggle to finish in the top half! I know we've been unlucky in losing Norris, but having been a world class centre midfielder himself surely Keane must know that Healy and Trotter are barely good enough to be a League One partnership let alone a top Championship one! How Garvan cannot start ahead of one of those 2 is beyond me! Then Keane comes out with, "In defence of the players, I take full responsibility. There were new players out there, young players" - so you mean Priskin (new) and Wickham (young), but Priskin wasn't exactly signed yesterday, he's come on in our other 2 league games so been here almost 2 weeks now and Wickham played all pre-season and been involved in every game so far so its not as if he shouldn't been ready either. Might help if we had some sort of creativity to give these guys a chance to put the ball in the net. That said, as disappointing as it's been so far it is early days and knowing Ipswich we'll probably go and beat West Brom on TV this Saturday. But please Keano, let's play our most creative player (Garvan) to at least give our strikers a chance of scoring!

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