Boss Roy Keane felt referee Andy Hall’s decision to disallow Stern John’s goal at the end of the first half was a turning point in Tuesday's 0-0 draw with Peterborough. The Blues manager thought the goal should have stood rather than being ruled out for an apparent push on Posh full-back Scott Griffiths.

Keane said: "Saying it was harsh would be an understatement and it was the turning point in the game.

"I always judge the reaction of both sets of players, but the one person who thought it was a foul was the referee.

"I don't think we played that well but we had some good chances. The fact we didn't take them was very frustrating and I'm getting fed up of using that word.

"We've got to start putting the ball in the back of the net and I don't just mean my strikers - anyone.

“Peterborough put their bodies on the line but it's surprising me how much trouble we're having scoring goals.

"I need my players to step up to the plate and take a sniff of a chance. Instead of that, we always seemed to be on our heels.

"We played too many long balls in the second half. I don't know why because we don't encourage the players to do that, but maybe it was a sign of us getting edgy.

"We overcomplicated it at times as well, when you are looking at players to have a shot when they are in a good position.

"It's very frustrating. The only positive is that we kept another clean sheet. Our defensive record is outstanding at the moment and if we had turned any ratio of chances into goals we would be so much better off in the table."

New Peterborough boss Mark Cooper was pleased with his side’s defensive display: "It was a very resolute performance.

"On Saturday we conceded a couple of needless goals but tonight the goalkeeper and centre-halves were outstanding. They had to deal with a lot of balls into the area but they won nearly every header.

"When they didn't they won the second ball that bounced on the edge of the box. I was very pleased defensively and, being greedy, we could have nicked it at the end.

"When you're in the position we're in and you come to a place like this, with the players they've got, you have to respect that.

"You can't go all-out attack. We tried to defend properly and play a bit on the counter-attack. That's three games unbeaten now and we have to build on this.

"We mustn't think we can just turn up and it'll happen for us at Coventry on Saturday, just because we've had some good performances. We've got to show the same work-rate and desire."

Photo: Action Images

UEFA81 added 23:52 - Dec 8 excuses, excuses.... "I always judge the reaction of both sets of players, but the one person who thought it was a foul was the referee." That's it then - end of. the ref's decision is final. GET OVER IT. Pack your bags Keane - always looking for somebody else to blame. You are clueless pal.
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Greektractor added 23:57 - Dec 8 yawn, get over yourself uefa, no1 cares what you have to say, you're the one that's clueless.
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itfc_dan added 23:58 - Dec 8 UEFA81 - you are an idiot!
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VemundBrekkeSkard added 00:16 - Dec 9 Not a "Turning point" at all. Absolutely nothing happened before the disallowed goal and absolutely nothing happened after. Nothing turned at all. There's no such thing as a turning point in a goalless draw, surely? Still, defence looked good again, and Lee-Barrett was impressive in goal (and not just in the patronising "oh well, he's doing his best in this bad situation" kind of impressive, as I had expected, but actually impressive). Garvan again had a good game. Difficult to actually see the point of Stern John today. His game consisted mostly of backing into people and falling over, not actually winning the aerial battles (which is the kind of striker I assumed we were looking for), and he missed a total sitter of a free header. Still, when nothing's going right up front I suppose you have to try different things. I hope he proves me wrong against Blackpool.

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northernblues added 00:18 - Dec 9 us not scoring again was a turning point, whether you like keane or not, no town fan can be satisfied with our present plight, as for keane how long do we give him, we have been turning the corner for 2 months now, 0-0 at home v p'boro, we really should do better.
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PutYaBootsOnKeano added 00:33 - Dec 9 Poor old Keano. We've gone full circle. He has taken a set of players, seen their potential, got angry when they havent performed and run through them with a plough, got slated, tried to make do, got us playin far far better than under JM, but still, the same players are letting him down, and need a damn good slating. They dominate but don't have the teeth to kill. Pray we can bring in some more quality in January. We have the manager, he's bought in some excellent players that are the basis of a promotion team. Now he needs 3 more of that top standard, and truly, this league is ours for the taking. next season. Beattie would be a very good start. :-) Counago, love ya mate, times up. Priskin. I concede, a RK mistake. He looks just awful and i cant see a good potential in him either. Stead should be the worst striker at the club, off the bench only. Conner = future, cant rely yet. Trotter - turn of fortunes in quality when he stopped playing. get rid. Quinn - really does not have the quality. battles but isnt good. Garvs - for keeps, but not the backbone Delaney - class Garet - class with delaney, seems to give him confidence not being the rock. Rosenior - class leadbitter - best player Edwards - up there but want him to push on. Colback - toughie. potential loan extension? John - unlikely to sign Norris - optimistic Civelli - Looked like bambi on ice to me, but injured too soon to judge Walters - true battler, every club needs him, but we shouldnt be reliant on him. point i'm making is, we are still in transition, and still need good, new players to start smashing through these teams we dominate anyway.

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FormerlyCGS added 00:52 - Dec 9 We need two strikers in jan.
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slatsisatractorboy added 01:03 - Dec 9 I saw the game at Bristol on Saturday, and despite the usual pessimists (UEFA81 in particular), I can honestly say that it is the best football I have seen us play for years. When a new manager comes in it will take time, especially after the mess we had before (no offence to Magilton, great player, awful manager, as is being highlighted now at QPR). It is obvious where we need work, and that is upfront. Priskin has been a major disappointment, as he showed promise at Watford. However, as we all know, we haven't had much luck in that area since the signing of Marcus Stewart back in 199(8/9?). We will get there. Prime example Crystal Palace a few years ago. Bottom 3 at xmas, playoffs end of season. and we are playing better than they ever did, even at their peak. COYB!

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bjc added 01:36 - Dec 9 thats it then i suppose keano "jim" will be heading off to guyana any day soon to start up roytown, hopefully he take his brainwashed idiots with him. come back burley
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julesbda added 01:50 - Dec 9 Well i'm glad everyone thinks we are playing so well .....if we keep playing this well then we will be in Division 1 ....i personally would take a scappy win than another lost 2 points....any other club would have gotten rid of RK by now ..i just hope we are doing the right thing ....seems that the defense isn't letting in goals but if we can't score them ..then what's the point !! we are supposed to be building a team for the premier league in 18 months time ...could anyone tell me who would be good enough for the premier league if we make it ?? maybe one or two it seems...so i don't see much building for the future !!! ian harte , stern john ??? hummm ..enough said ... i just hope RK had something up his sleeve otherwise a lot of us are going to look rather stupid and be very p*ssed off come the end of the year >>>

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salforduniblue added 02:01 - Dec 9 slatsisatractorboy - I reckon Shefki was a fantastic striker we signed in that interim period. My take on all this is - how much abuse did Royle get? And he took us to fifth and third on a shoestring. Now we have money we can't get near those "dizzy" heights. We may have had Georges Santos and Drissa Diallo, but at least we could score a shed load of goals. Something needs to change. Sooner rather than later

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Bluebaz added 05:43 - Dec 9 dear oh dear! Just 2 months ago he was being berrated for our performances (newcastle was awful but still angry at the 'fans' that left after the first goal!), we are now unbeaten in 9 and i wonder how many moaners we would have if we were in 12th place? Well to be fair probably quite a few based on some comments on here. I must admit to being disappointed at the appointment of RK but am impressed with how things are going now. We have not had a 20 goal a season striker since Bent and Kuki were about and we are being let down by what we have got, fair enough but instead of these personal vendettas some of us have (UEFA you sully a good night in Holland with your name) i for one am enjoying the season more than i was in october, that big win is coming as was the confidence earlier in the season. We are a patient and practical club, i hope we stay that way and ignore the morons who want to sack anyone in a 250 yard radius of the manager. Blackpool is a tricky game and we need to get behind the boys 100% again, i for one am hoping for another lost voice! Blue Army!!!!

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bjc added 06:24 - Dec 9 still theres good money to be made i got 9.25 to 1 on there being no goalscorers in the game the bookies will cop on soon though havent seen the odds 4 0-0 against blackpool yet but put as much as u can on a scoreless
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muhrensleftfoot added 07:15 - Dec 9 Strikers are very poor. Excuse Wickham for his youth. Oh for a natural goalscorer (mustn't mention Rhodes again!). Midfield should be weighing in with a few. Apart from a couple of Leadbitter shots from distance, they should be assisting the strikers by attacking the box & giving the frontmen some alternatives. I think Norris will help in this respect, but can't expect too much too soon from him after a few months out.

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16_Jack_ken_16 added 07:41 - Dec 9 UEFA81 people like you just need to get a life so grow up. and kean that was horriable last night but the reff was worst he was the worst i have ever seen. i hope we play better on saturday coyb
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bloooosman_malta added 08:01 - Dec 9 GET BEATTIE!!
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matt_the_blue added 08:05 - Dec 9 Despite the disappointing result it's one of the better performances I've seen at home this season - however the lack of finishing in front of P'Boro's goal was driving me to despair all night. Consolation? We're now 5 points off the bottom, 3 points above Argyle and only in the bottom 3 by a GD of 1 (cheers Doncaster!). 9 games unbeaten is nothing to be sniffed at, but we need to start getting wins to push on the incremental progress we've made. I'm less worried about the situation than I was a month ago, but I'm being realistic in that we're not out of the woods just yet...roll on Blackpool and hopefully some half-decent finishing on Saturday. COYB!

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Suffolk_n_Good added 08:07 - Dec 9 PRISKIN is crap! I said in September that he was a useless waste of space & challenged anyone to a bet on how many goals he would score before Christmas, I believe I have been proved correct! £1.7m I wouldnt give you tuppence for him, he's uninterested & lazy. On a positive note, Lee-Barrett was excellent, Defence looked solid, Leadbitter is still class, Garvan & Edwards had pretty good games. PLEASE SANTA BRING US A NEW STRIKER (or 2) FOR CHRISTMAS!!

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COPOSTCODE added 08:39 - Dec 9 Its Not about us as Fan "How Long do we give him" its about Keanos Boss, how long he gives him, does he see a brighter picture with Keane in charge a little further down the line, maybe maybe not, but what Evans might see is that there is NO other option at the moment, who will he bring in, at this point it would sink the team, Keane has agood football Brain, just needs to re tink it more for Town. I still say we will get out of the bottom 3, the defensive record proves although we are not scoring or winning we ARE getting very hard to beat..

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dobbie73 added 08:58 - Dec 9 PutYaBootsOnKeano - nice post, have to pretty much agree with your list there! I thought for 50-60% of the game we were well on top, playing some nice football, controlling large areas of the pitch, getting a few shots in (if only the goal was a foot bigger all round!), and looking solid in defence (Delaney and McAuley are becoming a revelation!). Then the ref decides to switch his brain off and a whole host of decisions effectively cost us 2 points - we really were good enough to win last night and not just draw. A disallowed goal, turned down penalty shout and at least one blatant Posh handball for starters! We seemed to lose our shape and cohesion after the substitutions, although Colback did OK I thought. Priskin was simply awful and although I have defended him in the past from critics, I am now wondering just what Keano saw in him. Wickham tried but with the midfield starting to get pulled about, service to him was patchy at best. Stead started OK but it was definitely time to get him subbed, but I fail to see why Walters was taken off .... Leadbitter was awesome (again), and with him covering the D when we attack, he reminds me a bit of Warky or Scholes coming in late to restart the attack when the defence attempts to clear, and to provide a longer range threat. Garvan also played well - good to see him back in form (so Keano's 'exile' treatment seems to have worked ...?) Arran in goal was impressive and confident, and all in all, apart from a toothless front line, we look to have a decent side in the making. At least we got to see the player with the best name in football last night .... EXODUS GEOHAGHON. Marvellous! Here's hoping we can burst Blackpool's bubble and that we don't get tango'd on Saturday. COYB!!

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Keaneish added 09:10 - Dec 9 Can't hide my disappointment at last night's result and was dreading looking on here for all the anti Keane comments, but in actual fact 90% of you are pretty much of the same opinion of me, which is: > despite our league position we're in good shape > we're playing good football > look great defensively > are creating chances and are hard to beat now > We've cleared a lot of dead wood, although bought a couple in unfortunately. Sorry Priskin, you're looking like another Finidi George to me. > Oh, and UEFA81 is a c**k Have to agree with putyourbootsonkeaneo on his player breakdown. Sadly for some, a lot of that is spot on. Marcus, dig deep, pay massive wages and get us Chris Boyd, oh yeah, and GIO! Ha Ha!

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Lightningboy added 09:18 - Dec 9 The majority on here keep banging on about "how we're improving" - we're not though,are we?..battering the oppo but still scraping a 0-0 at home to the bottom club,now a pitiful 2 wins in 20 games,just nowhere near good enough i'm afraid..we can keep on drawing from here til may,that ain't gonna keep us up chaps. How many of you said give him til Xmas? - well it is Xmas or hadn't you noticed? - probably not if you see life the way you see our team being run this season. Time for you all to have a mince pie,glass of sherry & wake up!

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dobbie73 added 09:24 - Dec 9 Lightningboy - you said it .... "The majority"!!
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PunchNoHopers added 09:25 - Dec 9 The goal was disallowed correctly, as Stern John was climbing all over the defender, so get over it! The truth is we were powderpuff once again and yes we dictated large parts of the game but there was no final product! Quite frankly last night we witnessed two teams who will be playing Division One football next season!
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byebyesheepshanks added 09:37 - Dec 9 I've been vocal against Keano but he has sorted the defence out, we're playing much better & I actually enjoyed the game. I think it was his early mistakes that got us in the relegation zone, but its done & dusted now & he's got us playing tighter & better. The side has definitely progressed & that's all you want. Sure we need a striker. I wish Rosenior would run into the box more - he would defo have got us a pen last night. He could have left boro defenders for dead. Roll on Saturday - the wins will come.

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