Boss Roy Keane admitted that his side didn’t play particularly well despite ending their 14-game winless streak by beating Derby County 1-0 at Portman Road.

Keane said: “I'm obviously pleased - it's much better than losing. It's always nice to win football matches but ironically I don't think we played particularly well. We have definitely played better this season and not got the result.

"That is probably the worst we have played for the last four or five weeks. It wasn't a pretty performance, but we'll obviously take the points.

"We started slowly and when you do that, it can be hard to get going. We were waiting for something to happen, instead of making it happen.

"I'm not sure what Wrighty was doing there but he got among 6ft 4in defenders and got his head on it. He gambled and we needed someone to do something different.

"We didn't play well but the substitutes made a difference in the second half and we perhaps just edged it.”

The Blues boss admits he was worried when Derby had a chance towards the end: "I was concerned when it fell to Bryan Hughes.

"He's a very good, technical player but if we'd conceded again it would have been hard to take. We made hard work of it and could have killed the game off.

"Tamás had a great chance, one-on-one and right in front of goal, but credit to their goalkeeper for making the save.”

The Town manager singled Asmir Begovic out for praise: “I was delighted with our keeper and he again showed he has real presence on the pitch. But I like goalkeepers who stop the ball from going into the back of the net. I'm told that Schmeichel was technically poor but Jesus, he kept the ball out didn't he?”

Keane says he is happy for the supporters after such a long run without wins: “I'm pleased for the fans because they deserved that. It's nice to get that first win but we know we have got a long way to go yet and have to look to move on from this, starting at Reading next week.

“I haven't said much to the players yet - they are probably sick of hearing me talking all the time. At least they can enjoy their Saturday night and their Sunday for the first time in a couple of months.

“But it's still only one win in 15 games, so we will be back on the training ground working hard again first thing on Monday morning.”

Derby manager Nigel Clough revealed his club looked into getting the game called off after losing 16 players through injury. The Rams were only able to name five substitutes.

Clough said: "We were looking into that but obviously if we can get a team out there that's what we have to try and do.

"If at all possible the authorities want you to play the game and we've done that. We don't like calling games off and had faith in the players we had out there to put on a performance and they did that.

"It's a defeat, but it's an encouraging one. I thought we did enough to get something from the game but when you're on a little run like we are things can go against you.

"It was an extremely spirited performance, given we were down to the bare bones, and bitterly disappointing that we should come in on the wrong end of a defeat.

"Bryan Hughes had a very good chance at the far post, their goalkeeper had a very good game and it was a case of the ball not dropping for us at the right times.

“One goal was always going to decide it but generally I thought we defended well. But it would be nice to be able to put two recognised central defenders out for a change.

“If there is such a thing as an encouraging defeat then this was probably it, but having said that I am delighted for Roy Keane. Despite our defeat, I was very pleased to see him finally win.”

Photo: Action Images

multipulemicky added 07:54 - Nov 1 I dont care how we win as lons as we do every now and then!!! COYB!!!!
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 08:02 - Nov 1 Great win today. Or rather, great to win today. If we'd lost, or even drawn, we'd have begun to be cut away at the bottom as other results went against us. Listening to the match on Radio Suffolk, it didn't sound as though there was much to choose between a side in 19th place with half their squad injured and ITFC. It could have gone either way. We are still deep in a relegation battle and I can't see many sides at the moment that I feel confident we can beat - actually make that "any" sides. That's not to say that we won't beat some, however. Positives apart from the win are the crowd's size and reaction. But there is much yet still to prove. Like anyone else, I hope this really is the start of a decent run. COYB. But I'm not getting carried away just yet.

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Bobajobblue added 08:45 - Nov 1 Took my 6 year old daughter for the first time and she loved it, although she got out her notepad and started doodling during the first half, enough said. Had to choose the right game to take her to all season so as not to put her off and I struck lucky, now need to convince the missus about season tickets. Keane got the substitutions right yesterday, we looked a totally different side with Counago as play maker, once we scored we looked much sharper and didn't sit back, it just shows that this game is all about confidence. If we can keep that, we should climb the table.

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buryblue77 added 09:37 - Nov 1 Get in there! At last, and it doesn't matter that we were not as good as we have been. When you watch a game, yeah you want nice football but if we grind out a result, that's what matters. Points send you up the table, not performances, so credit to the lads for getting the win on the back of a not so good performance. Just need more now, and hopefully some money for Begovic in January. He seems solid and maybe we should make a move for him permanently. COYB!!!!!

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hogster1970 added 09:52 - Nov 1 well same as boba my eldest didnt want to go so took my mates 5 year old daughter, i think she enjoyed it any how,. but i must agree not a stella performance but we got the result. the keeper played a blinder so well done him i thought david wright played well , delany put in a reasonble good performance at center back, and so did brucy. thought the changes was spot on and even talked to the guy next to me and hey presto we played better, i do think at the moment trotter is out of his depth, walters looked good even in is out of postion on the left, i would have prefed him to move over to thr right when peters came on as we would have been a bit more balnced as kamie doesnt seem to have that end product yet in a killer pass. again pabs came on and showed why he should start in front of stead and i do think a few games with pabs and pristin will yeild goals, but they need the service from the midfiled and they aint getting it, even shearer in his hey day wont score unless he gets some quailty balls through so are 2 have no chance, it stems from the midfiled, so hopefully when norris cames back and chivvy things will change, but at the moment i think either walters or edwards on the right with grant and may either quinn or garvan then either walters or martin on the left. the back four seems sorted at the moment but i would pick mac ahead of delany though but he did a good job today so maybe we might have the center half issue sort of sorted. i think we have the players but its getting the mix right at the start and i still believe the midfield is the stick point at the moment. they still seem to bunch up to much, play like that against a top team and we will get hammered so they need to spread out more, all to often derby's wingers were out there on there own and it takes just one pass and the ballk will be in the box, this wont help out defence at all. so come on boys if you are reading this sbread out more keep shape and fight for every chance, and dont be gready slide that killer pass to our forwards at the right time and we will score, fart around and wait to long or cut inside then the short period or a actual chance will pass as there defenders will be back in the box any way lets see if we can kick ass at reading for another 6 pointer

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goperryrevs added 10:05 - Nov 1 "I'm told that Schmeichel was technically poor but Jesus, he kept the ball out didn't he?” I didn't know Jesus was a goalkeeper - although, of course, Jesus Saves!
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Dogsy40 added 10:37 - Nov 1 UEFA81 you're a complete c*ck. Its quite amazing how one win can put me in such a good mood for the day, the passion in sport. Todays performance was worth so much more than 3 points, the boys play poorly and still win, a sign of a good side. Enjoy that cup of tea Keano!! COYB.
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Bergholtblue added 10:43 - Nov 1 Giving the fans the benefit of the doubt, I thought that they were cheering at teh introduction of Pablo not cheering because Trotter was going off. Trotter did OK. The Keeper apart no-one was really outstanding but no-one had a nightmare either. As RK said we have played better and got nothing and a win is a win. No we have rid ourselves of that particualr millstone we need to prerss on and beat Reading next Saturday. I'll be there, come on you blues!

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PutYaBootsOnKeano added 10:54 - Nov 1 Ha, was gonna have a pop at UEFA81 but I think that mantle has been effectively taken! (not to mention, if i recall, his score prediction being pessimistic and, thankfully wrong) Point is, how many teams have come away from games against us, saying, 'well, we were lucky in that game' or 'we probably didn't deserve it but..' - High time some things went our way, and all being well, this will give us some confidence. Rosenior is great, i hope we can keep him.

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bluewein added 11:53 - Nov 1 Just woke up with a steaming great hangover, but it's nice that the reason for it is that 1st win of the season! I'm gonna be honest, I wasn't at the game yesterday, I live in yeovil and I didn't even listen to the game (damn Ipswich player balls up!) until 30 mins from the end when I found a radio derby link, and just caught Wrighty's goal in time, but listening to the radio derby commentators, you'd have thought we stole the game, broke into the changing rooms, nicked the players belonging's and rogered their WAGS!!! Well you know what, I dont care!!! For all the hard work we've put in this season, for all the pain the fans have endured, for every jammy last minute equaliser/winner against us, this just makes it all worth while! Ok, so it's an ugly win, against a poor side. We've played better against better side's this season and come away with nothing, so this is just justice IMO! And let's all remember, tragic's QPR whent 2-0 down against this lot last week, they won in the end, but it does show that with injury's galore, this Derby side are, if nothing else, plucky!!! It's not quite the beginning of the revival, let's all keep our feet on the ground about it, because we all know there's alot of hard work to do. Reading is the next big challenge, but it is a realistic winner as they are not the team they were. Many have already said "Oh, Reading won 3-1 they will will be so up for it now!" Anyone think that they will be saying the same about us?! No sign of the anti-keane's on today as well, which does prove, IMO, that there are some people who just have a real petty vendeter against the guy. He may not have got it right completly so far, but he did thing's yesterday that the "experts" on this board have been calling for. Delaney at CB, Wright at left back, (Wright, by the way, is already my call for player of the year, having been made to train with the youth team, never complained about it and has now come back stronger than ever! Model pro!!!) Anyone with a negative post today should just be brushed aside, because i'm stuggling to find anything to be negative about today!!! Right, rant over, soapbox away, i'm going back to bed to sleep of this damn hangover!!! COYB!!!!!!!

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Eiffel65 added 12:09 - Nov 1 UEFA81 = Scummer
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1Finshefki added 12:22 - Nov 1 Cup of tea, even an extra biscuit - well deserved Roy; we know you are doing your best with our ramshackle bunch. There is a team in there somewhere. I'm so pleased I could jump and down on my blue plastic seat. David Wright - you are now a legend. Changing room rumour tells that RK was asking recently at half time who was going to stand up and be counted, who was going to give the spark to inspire the others. It seems that DW has the cojones required. Now take that to Reading and make it mean something!

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webside added 12:55 - Nov 1 As a poster said before, Rosenior's walk around to applaud the fans at the end was a great touch. Even at the Watford game he seemed extremely gutted and gave a shirt to a member of the crowd. He seems very much like Noble was here, very passionate about whatever team he plays for. Just shows that he cares for the team and the fans. Ugly win, but a win's a win, and very happy for us (though gutted we're still bottom!). the atmosphere in Upper Bobby Robson stand was crazy, lets hope we can be like that every game.

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roytheboy added 14:10 - Nov 1 Game changed dramatically once Pablo & Priskin came on, I was most disappointed with Stead's lacklustre performance & still find it hard to accept that Trotter has what it takes, maybe he could be better on the back row one day ! Delaney should continue as a centre back in my opinion, Our keeper was excellent, a superb goal from David Wright, Jamie Peters did well but he must learn how to keep the ball down when he gets such a good oportunity in front of goal, I'm thoroughly delighted for Roy Keane & his players, they really do deserve better than they have so far achieved, true fans should ignore the negativity of certain posters on this site ! I can't honestly believe that they support Ipswich at all, perhaps they just get some weird pleasure from celebrating other peoples disapointments & indeed get far more satisfaction when we lose !!!!

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WickedBlue added 14:42 - Nov 1 For all those going on about not seeing how the win today will do us any good as far as starting a run. Do any of you really understand anything about football? It is a confidence game, wins breeds confidence. Yes is was not a pretty win but how many times has a team got a scrapped 1-0 win then gone on from there? It happens pretty much every season, and to prove I am a glass half full person just think we are now unbeaten in 4 games! We have got the monkey off our backs now lets go on from here!

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StowTractorBoy added 15:07 - Nov 1 I personally didn't think it was a bad performance particularly after the hopeless Trotter and Stead were removed. I thought Delaney was superb considering he had been out in the cold for so long with no match practice. The bloke deserves great praise and he and Bruce worked well together. Persist with Pablo and Priskin up front and do not play Trotter anymore - he will never make it I'm afraid. Roytheboy comments spot on. Reading will be very difficult but then so is every game and Derby are no slouchers however many players they had out. They have had good results this season so for me it was a brillo win.

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iamgay added 15:59 - Nov 1 the sir bobby stand was rocking i hope all games get that kind of atmosphere from now on. 3 points is 3 points!!
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jas0999 added 16:30 - Nov 1 Totally agree with Keane's comments. Some will argue we were 'lucky', but actually Roy has to take some credit. He realised (rightly) that Richard Wright was making numerous costly errors and signed a keeper who can actually catch the ball and keep the ball out of the net. Many have moaned about Keane's signings - and rightly at times - but this lad looks good. In addition, we deserved some luck. We have played well at times in recent weeks and lost / drew due to late goals when all honestly we deserved to win. That's football though, and yesterday, although not at our best we won. So we happily move on!

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MazzaCOYB added 16:46 - Nov 1 My first post on here, been a season ticket holder for a few years but after the win yesterday felt I had to make a comment. Best atmosphere that I have seen at PR in while, I felt the fans really got us through in the end and great to see the boys finally win, roll on Reading we have to go there with some confidence now and I really do believe that we could get ourselves another three points. I am hoping there will be a big following and maybe we can carry the atmosphere from the Derby game through. ITFC Death before dishonour!

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SomershamBlue added 17:17 - Nov 1 Excellent support from the fans on Saturday. But those were a nerve-racking final few minutes, weren't they? You could feel the tension and then the relief when the whistle finally blew! As others have said, it's about confidence - and winning breeds confidence. Let's all hope that we can build on this and move up the table now. Even the 'Keane Out' brigade must want that - or do they?....

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Suffolk_n_Good added 17:35 - Nov 1 Happy!! but lets make sure we follow it up with further points against Reading & Sheff Weds otherwise today's result will mean little. COYBs! (Priskin needs to spend the week doing a bit of shooting practice!)
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wark_on_water added 17:43 - Nov 1 I'd rather be lucky than good - Can't remember who said that but it's certainly true!!! Now let's build on it - Let's all get to Reading and make some real noise!!
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Singing_The_Blues added 17:49 - Nov 1 The Sir Bobby Stand was rocking for the final ten minutes if we had this at every game teams would be so scared to cum to pr fort delaney and bruce were good at the back and alot better with priskin and pabs up front just give priskin a chance hes low on confidence but he will score with a run of games in keano we trust
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ruthiev added 18:40 - Nov 1 EUFA81 what are you on? Keano took over a very mediocre side & surely you must admit his purchases so far have been an improvement on what we had before? Begovic, Rosenior, Edwards, Leadbitter & even (dare I say) Delaney all add quality to our side now. Give him time. I refuse to get carried away with yesterday's win; but its a start & hopefully a confidence boost. I too am very relieved to have that first win. Onwards & Upwards hopefully! COYB & There's only one Keano! :o))

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naa added 19:19 - Nov 1 Not going to be too negative on here, as I'm as happy with a win as the next man and agree that while it wasn't a classic performance we didn't exactly rob Derby. Glad he saw sense with his striker choice in the second half. I think people should also go easy on Priskin for his miss though - he has hardly played a minute of football in the last couple of months so it's no surprise if he's a bit rusty and maybe low on morale. As for Keane's signings raised by ruthiev got to say that I don't agree I'm afraid. If he inherited such a rubbish team and has strengthened it with 5 players then surely we should be loads better shouldn't we? Hardly the case, even if things do finally seem to be on the up. I think the issue is that Edwards, Rosenior and (arguably) Begovic have all been signed in positions that weren't weak (Walters, D Wright and R Wright) so the team improvement has been lessened (and in fact Walters being pushed up front as a result didn't help anyone). Just a shame that the left-back and left-midfielder he signed didn't improve the team, as they were positions that we did need to strengthen. Thought Begovic was excellent yesterday but do worry that we won't sign him (Portsmouth don't seem to want to sell) so we'll lose him in January and replace him with a Richard Wright completely lacking in confidence.

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