Boss Roy Keane slammed his side’s defending after the Blues’ 3-1 defeat at Middlesbrough. Town again conceded soft goals, all but gifting the home side the victory.

Keane said: "When you look at the goals we've conceded all season, it has been a horror show," said Keane. "And there have been another three today.

"We have had decent possession and always looked a threat but as soon as we lose it we are in trouble and we've conceded a goal. We can't keep on giving the ball away.

“And up the other end too. We have put good balls into the area but not made them count.

"If it was about corners and balls into the box we'd be well clear at the top. We can't keep on making excuses."

Keane says there is no panic despite his side languishing second from bottom: "I wouldn't call it a crisis. Supporters may call it that, but I would call it a challenge.

"We are certainly not panicking. Are we disappointed? Yes. Are we frustrated? Yes. But we are not panicking.

"We have a decent squad here and between the boxes we are playing some good stuff.

"Maybe we are lacking a bit of confidence at the moment because of the lack of a win but it will come, it will gel. It is early days yet."

The Town manager was pleased with his three recent signings: "The three new lads did OK and they bring quality to the side, but you can't win matches with three players, however much difference they make.

"We've got to go again against Nottingham Forest. I have made changes and have given players opportunities and some others may get a chance on Tuesday night."

Boro manager Gareth Southgate admitted the scoreline flattered his side: "I thought we were laboured at times, particularly in the second half when they had so much of the ball.

"I thought the quality of the goals was excellent and I was delighted that Jeremie came off the bench and made an impact like that. It is nice for a manager when a player makes his point like that.

"But the game wasn't as easy for us as the scoreline suggests. We were made to work hard and we lost concentration at the end and gave away a soft penalty and the clean sheet. We need to be more ruthless."

Photo: Action Images

the_gospel added 22:59 - Sep 12 defence has needed fixing since 2001 and attack since bent and kuqi. Keane is at least highlighting the right problems and trying to do something about it quickly. Give support.
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Mark added 23:01 - Sep 12 The defence against Preston was LB Smith CB Balkestein CB McAuley RB Bruce. The defence against Middlesbrough was LB Delaney CB Bruce CB McAuley RB Rosenior. With that amount of change, is it any wonder we cannot defend? We need to find a settled team and fast!
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jas0999 added 23:13 - Sep 12 Defence simply isn't good enough. Interesting point from 'Mark'. consistency is the key BUT - not may of the players are good enough. McAuley is useless. Two more critical errors today. Pim also makes mistakes. Bruce is decent and Rosenior will be a good player. We need a left back and a centre half. I also believe we will come good, but it is very frustrating. Relegation material we are not and remember Burnley last season? Beaten 3-0 at home by a certain Ipswich side - barely had a point after 5 games . . .

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fizzyblue added 23:16 - Sep 12 obviously disappointing! but dont realy expect much away to MB.. agree with some of the comments that a consistent team needs to be played, without all this tinkering. Dont think the players know if they are comming or going (scuse the pun!). I am a keane supporter, but even i am starting to loose a little patience. Hope that we all have something to smile about after the forest game. would start with this IMO- GK-wright LB-Delaney CB-Mcauley CB-Bruce RB- rosenior RM- Edwards CM- Leadbitter (holding) CM- Walters (behind front 2) LM-Martin FW-Priskin FW-Counago partnerships need to be forming throughout the team, especially the front 2.. would bring walters in the middle for his creativity which gives alot more pace on the flanks... think that could work? lets ave a good win against forest.. which will improve the atmosphere against newcastle come on you blue boyz!

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BoxerBlue added 00:12 - Sep 13 2 right fizzyblue bring on the forest BLUE ARMY!!!
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UEFA81 added 00:27 - Sep 13 Sling your hook Keane. Pathetic.
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multipulemicky added 07:03 - Sep 13 UEFA81 GET A GRIP MATE ITS EARLY DAYS YET!!!!
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legoman added 07:28 - Sep 13 I just hope the two loan signings are defenders because I am really panicking. Ime getting palpitations.
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Surreyexile45 added 09:13 - Sep 13 I have posted several times about keeping patient.. this league is never easy and we have to have faith in RK. If you look at our starts for the past four or five seasons we have been sluggish. I agree that the team needs to settle. Keep the faith!
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opinionscount4nothin added 09:19 - Sep 13 If this was Jim Magilton, everyone would want him hung by now! RK promised promotion within 2 seasons and he will be true to his word. What he didn't tell all of you gullable morons is that he is going to do it next seson by coming straight back up from D1 after getting the once great ITFC (RIP Sir Bobby) relegated from the fizzy pop league at the first attempt.

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Suffolk_n_Good added 09:26 - Sep 13 Mcauley is dreadful, I've never seen a centre back play as bad as he does, (& I can remember Manuel Thetis!) the sooner some club comes in for him the better, I keep reading about "give him a chance", "how well he plays for N Ireland" "get behind the team" etc..... sorry but this just isn't cutting it anymore, the sooner he is out the better. I've no doubt I'll get loads of abuse for this comment, & told that I'm not a real supporter because I'm voicing an opinion that others dont agree with, but you cant argue with the facts, Mcauley is not up to it, he's slow, doesn't read the game well & makes basic defending errors, the sooner we have a quality replacement the better.

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ItfcLoyal added 09:28 - Sep 13 Get mcauley he is absolute crap who gives a stuff if he got man of the match in the island match don't know what people see in hIm sell him for a mill
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mikeybloo88 added 09:46 - Sep 13 Hey, McAuley played 2 hard world cup qualifiers this week and did a lot of travelling. Give him a break, he must have been a bit tired, so I'm bot surprised he made an error or two - personally, I'd have rested him, but maybe Keano just didn't think he had a better option. At least McAuley went out and tried even though he must have been tired, time some other players stepped up to the plate and helped out.

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Suffolk_n_Good added 10:00 - Sep 13 Here we go, here come come all the blind faithful, If Mcauley can't cope with playing more than 1 game a week then maybe he should try Sunday league! (apologies to those that play on a Sunday!) Mcauley making errors is the only consistant thing in his game!!
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dazzer66 added 10:07 - Sep 13 go walk out the door turn around now your not welcome anymore......bye bye mr beane the macs were right we are a laughing stock .forest will do us also ,no fear coning to portman road these days 1.3
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danknott added 10:08 - Sep 13 Trvelled all the way up from the south-west to the north east yesterday. I didnt expect much from the game but the be honest we played well at times, we showed alot of aggression which is new for me as a town fan. But once again our defending was shockkkkinggg!!! Gareth was slow aswell as Damien personally i would of taken him off before 64 minute. We once again had alot of possession but threat on goal was poor, we just cant finish. Worrying times for town fans...the dark black clouds are looming over suffolk. Keane will walk by christmas!!!

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bigfish added 10:29 - Sep 13 RK has it in hand it will take time so get behind him and the team
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ITFC_james added 10:39 - Sep 13 Delaney isn't god enough, McCauley isn't good enough. The best LB we've had in the last few seasons is Dan Harding and now he's gone. Wright is somehow out of the side. Pim is a fantastic player if you take away his long boot up field. In defence it should be Lb-Wright Lcb-Pim Rcb-Bruce (c) Rb-Rosenoir and Walters is no longer a striker. He's a right midfielder or a winger where he can win the ball and get it in the box, he's strong down the line, great cross and can shoot long range. edwards on the left walters out right. Colback and leadbitter in the middle

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danknott added 10:55 - Sep 13 After yesterdays game the whole back line wasnt good enough!!! Our back 4 was a laughing stock with boro fans!!! I was going red in the face!!!
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Burkey93 added 10:58 - Sep 13 McCauley is crap , get rid of him now. We are seriously in need of points and s**t defending isn't going to help. Our best team is: GK Wright RB Rosenoir LB Wright CB Bruce CB Balkestein RM Edwards LM Walters CM Colback CM Leadbitter ST Counago ST Priskin if we started playing the same team every week we might get somewhere. I still have faith in Keane though. Come on you Blues!!!

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cwb91 added 11:09 - Sep 13 Finally people see Mcawful for what he really is, a dreadful footballer and a poor centre half. Pim will be fantastic but he needs some support from poorly-informed Town fans. Gareth and Damien are the root cause of our problems, but Pim needs a partner to guide him, and atm we don't have anyone near good enough in the squad. Bruce tries hard but is he really honestly good enough? Im not sure. Pim will become good, and i agree with the comment above, that team looks formidable. Other than that, give Keane time, he will get it right in the end. Sacking him after 8 games is actually insulting to the man, he deserves more support than this, as nobody could say his heart isn't in it.

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dazzer66 added 11:20 - Sep 13 sack him now ......insulting the man,he's insulting the name of itfc more and more as each shambolic week passes.....
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Gazelle added 11:22 - Sep 13
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dirtydingusmagee added 11:23 - Sep 13 Surreyexile , as you rightly pointed out the last 4 or 5 seasons have started slowly.........thats one reson we never got promoted ! and Keane was brought in to change it .......BUT HAS DONE NOTHING TO IMPROVE IT . So after this crap season [it will be ,trust me ] what happens with the 2nd year PROMOTION , RIGHT , The only pig that ever flew, was the PINK FLOYD pig at Battersea .

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BlueandWhiteBlood added 11:25 - Sep 13 We all need to keep the faith and the results will start to come. Can anybody else remember a year when Palace were near the bottom at christmas but still made the play offs ?
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