Boss Roy Keane felt a point was probably the right result after the Blues drew 1-1 at Leicester. Town were hit by yet more bad news regarding a goalkeeper with new signing Brian Murphy probably out for several weeks having injured his ankle in the warm-up prior to the Foxes game.

Keane said: "A draw was probably about right but we are disappointed we didn't get the win, although Arran did make the best save of the game.

“Because we’ve had such a poor start to the season, it’s victories we’re after but Leicester are obviously having a good season and maybe it’s a point gained. I think we probably had the better of the chances but our keeper probably pulled off the best save.

“I don’t think it was a great game, our passing wasn’t up to scratch but I think we could have done better. We got the ideal start and we had some half chances but again we’ve not scored enough goals this season and despite the spirit and the efforts of the players, we’re lacking that cutting edge.

“I think we had the balance wrong when we went 1-0 up. I think we should have kept the ball a little bit better and we played too many long balls, which just invited trouble from our point of view.

"Draws won't get you too far up the table but I still think we are capable of having a good season, and that would include getting into the play-offs."

Keane revealed that new signing Murphy wouldn’t have been able to play had Arran Lee-Barrett picked up a knock during the game: "Brian was on the bench but he couldn't possibly have played and the ankle is pretty sore at the moment.

"It's possible that it's ankle ligaments and if that is the case, he could be out for a number of weeks.

"We've not had much luck with keepers this season. Shane Supple retired, Asmir Begovic went back to Portsmouth, then Wrighty got injured and now Brian.

"I've had ankle ligament injuries myself and they can take time to heal, so we will have to see what the scans show and take it from there."

The Blues boss gave Connor Wickham his first start since August and says he won his place in the side with his recent performances: “Connor’s there on merit, he’s been training really well. The last probably three or four games when he’s come on, he’s been a real threat for us and he’s earned the right to start today.

“He’s obviously got a chance of being a top player but again he’s learning his trade and I thought he did well today, considering he’s up against two good centre-halves, players that have been around a long time and were fairly tough with him. But that’s what Connor needs, he needs to learn his trade.”

Keane says that although he feels there are areas of his squad he needs to strengthen there won’t be too many players coming in during the January transfer window: “We won’t be doing much business I wouldn’t have thought. We’ve made enquiries for one or two players, but that’s as far as it’s gone.

“We’ve got one or two lads coming back from injury and the balance isn’t too bad. I’ve got a big squad, I’ve got a lot of good players who didn’t even travel with us, so I want to be careful and if I do bring one or two players to the club, then they’ll have to be of real quality and trying to get a player of that quality in January is very difficult, and it’s the same for every club.

Keane says he’s delighted to have midfielder David Norris back from his knee ligament injury: “It’s like having a new signing. He’s been a massive loss to us. He’s just getting up to speed with his match fitness. His passing will improve over the course of the next few months, but we’ve missed his tenacity and his energy.

“I’ve got a lot of time for David, he’s my type of player, he gets stuck in and he’s been a big plus for us over the last few weeks.

“I’m pretty sure that if he hadn’t got injured at the beginning of the season we wouldn’t be where we are in the league, which is a compliment to him.”

Leicester City manager Nigel Pearson was disappointed with his side’s performance: "It wasn't a very good game and we struggled to get anything going in a positive manner.

"We didn't achieve the standards we have reached this season. We didn't look as solid as we have been in recent games. We were too open and they - Ipswich - enjoyed some potentially dangerous situations. But at least we've come out of it with something positive."

Photo: Action Images

AJblue added 18:58 - Jan 10 Hope Keane is just being cagey with his not bringing too many palyers in quote. I thought we played well today, but still lacked that killer touch, a touch that a proven goalscorer would bring to the team. Great start, just didnt build on it, but i said yesterday i would take a point. As for goalies,seems we are cursed. Hope Murphy recovers quickly,although Arran looks better every time i see him. On the whole not bad, another point away from the drop zone, and not too many teams will go to Leicester and come away with a point, heres to 3 points on Saturday against Cov.

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cbower added 18:58 - Jan 10 Decent analysis of the game from Mr Keane - we haven't scored enough goals all season!! We need a striker with a bit of pace - that's the only thing we should be looking for during this transfer window. Oh - and probably another loan keeper for the next month now aswell!
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SurreyITFC added 19:02 - Jan 10 I would have taken a point before the game, but if we had taken our chances in the first half we would be going home with all 3! We need a quality proven goalscorer ASAP and clearly missed the In Form Stead. Also whilst Priskin has not had the best of starts with us he will not get match fit by never being in the final 16 and at least having a chance to come of the bench and effect the game in a positive way. Here's hoping for 3 points next week against Coventry and possibly a new signing before then.

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SouperJim added 19:05 - Jan 10 We've got a solid foundation now thats for sure and I have no worries about us getting pulled back into the relegation scrap. I think a push on up the table and a chance of sneaking into the play-offs might be on the cards if we could add 10 goals to the team, but from Keane's comments it doesn't look like thats going to happen. Seems a real shame as I think the fans deserve more from the remainder of the season and shouldn't be left to just looking forward to next year, especially considering all the fighting talk that came out of the club over the summer.

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forensic_bloo added 19:15 - Jan 10 Thought the passing and general standard of football was very poor, from both sides, but that might have been because of conditions. For once, both managers seem to concur entirely with me, in that it could have gone either way, neither team really did enough to win it, although both teams could have done so. And to be fair, I would always take a draw away from home as a positive result. We move on to Saturday, and hope for better (in weather, result and performance)

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PutYaBootsOnKeano added 19:16 - Jan 10 ALBie was cool and composed in goal today anyway, phenomenal save made too.. Thought we lost all energy in the second half and stopped working off the ball. No options when in possession = lost possession. Tough slog today, against a physical team - but we should have buried them tbh - just lacking a reliable goal scorer. Anyone else notice that? ;-)
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Mark added 19:21 - Jan 10 It's a blow about Murphy. New signings usually play a few minutes before being injured for weeks! :-) With our midfield being so competitive I was confident before today's match, although less so when I heard Bruce and Balkenstein were playing the full-back positions. I guess D.Wright and Rosenior were struggling for fitness. I thought we did well from watching the match on TV, and it was a good point. As everyone says, we do need to find that decent striker as we shouldn't be relying on a 16-year-old really.

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matt_the_blue added 19:27 - Jan 10 I'd agree with the above - a draw was a fair result. I think we went a bit off the boil in the second half but were still in it and we were clearly missing Stead upfront (still need to sign a decent target man this window though!). I do wonder how it would've gone if Colback hadn't missed that chance just before Leicester equalised though...
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arc added 19:30 - Jan 10 That Arran L-B is a dab hand with the voodoo dolls.
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clarkym added 20:09 - Jan 10 typical in football really, macauley makes their keeper produce a quality save and then leicester go up the other end and score...shame really as 2-0 puts the game to bed i think --- overall though, we ll take a draw and move on....if we can get a goalscorer on the books this month then we can start turning these away draws into wins...slowly but surely, keanes getting it together

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blueboy20 added 20:15 - Jan 10 I watched the game and i think the draw was a good result, i know we missed a good few but we defended well at times too, Leadbitters header off the line and Aarran's magic save were scary moments. Overall we looked very solid and i don't think we need to worry about teams doing what they did to us in the first half of the season. We could maybe use a bit more pace up the top is my only concern we have goals in us just need to be more clinical. with regards to the Play-Offs 75 is the average number of points so we need about anohter 50 to be certain, big ask but i'm confident! Good result keano and the boys.

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Keaneish added 20:44 - Jan 10 Yeah, have to agree with you Mark, if anyone wonders in part why we were struggling at the start of the season i think you need look no further than Bruce and Balkenstein as full backs, a pale shadow compared to Rosenior and Wright. Understand why they were brought in, but not a patch on the two regulars. Thought we'd have played it about a bit more today, but happy with a point. Definitely 3 more coming up against Coventry.

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jas0999 added 20:52 - Jan 10 What else can go wrong for Roy? Goalkeeper situation is laughableif it's not serious. Rosenior and Wright left out as not fully fit.
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Marshalls_Mullet added 20:53 - Jan 10 FAO Arc - Is that Striding Edge behind you??
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OrkneyBlue added 21:01 - Jan 10 Watched the game on tv and thought we were pretty decent today, and like everyone else think the only thing which has stopped us turning 1 point into 3 was the lack of that elusive goalscorer who may of burried the chance to make it 2-0 just before they made it 1-1. I also thought that there were a couple of cracking balls put in to the box which maybe a proven goalscorer may have taken a chance on at the front/back post. Anyhoo still a decent point, if offered that against an on form top 5 side away before kick off i think we'd have taken it possibily. We are becoming hard to beat and i think there is definately signs of better times around the corner especially if we start taking more of our chances in front of goal.

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HighSeasBlue added 21:14 - Jan 10 We need, and have needed, a striker all season which is why so many possible wins have ended up draws. We are slow going forward and this needs to be addressed. As soon as we get another forward then we should start going up the table as the rest of the Team is starting to look good.
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superblues9 added 21:49 - Jan 10 Lee lee lee barrat Lee lee lee barrat Lee lee lee barrat Lee lee lee barrat Lee lee lee barrat Lee lee lee barrat Lee lee lee barrat Lee lee lee barrat what a chant he had a blinder today would of been well harsh to drop him for murphy anyway
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Guthrum added 22:20 - Jan 10 Was late arriving and missed our goal. Town created lots of chances, in the first half were all over them. We had three corners in a row before Leicester broke away and scored. Things got a bit too defensive in the second half, but I still thought Town might score, right up to the final whistle. Too many long balls, but then Leicester were doing that too. Jaime Peters was MOM for me. Loads of energy, runs, winning headers and a decent shot at goal. ALB also very solid in goal. We miss Stead as our only in-form goalscorer.

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moomoosereni added 23:05 - Jan 10 I think keanos comments are quite sensible in some respects. He's obviously viewing plenty of options and wants to make sure that any signings we do make they are good quality ones. Little bit of a worry that He's sniffing around Derby. Having said that how many times have you seen players who just can't produce the goods under certain managers and at certain clubs, then come up trumps. Whilst he is an alien and was a scummer too, look at Earnshaw for example. Done nothing for 2-3 years. Jumping from club to club. But at Forest, he looks settled and hungry for goals. Maybe Keane can work his wonders with players who we wouldn't normally touch with a barge pole! Todays result. 1-1 I think was prob a fair result. That killer touch upfront is lacking. Some fantastic balls from our wide players today especially from corners, but no one on the end that you thought would put them away for sure. He's name has been mentioned enough times but to get Simeon Jackson or someone of his sort, I would be very happy.

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buryblue77 added 23:54 - Jan 10 I had said that Lee Barrett would probably not be our first choice keeper if Wright was fit, and when Murphy came in, Well he's got the chance to make that posistion his own now Murphy is injured, he's played well since he came in and that point blank save was worthy of any of the worlds best Buffon, Casillas, Valdes etc.... ok thats a hell of a comparison and I'm not saying he's up there with them but he's been signing of the season as far as I'm concerned. Think todays point is more a point gained than two dropped, we still lack a real cutting edge up front, but Leicester are a quality side and they're right up there in the hunt. Not a bad performance either really, although defensively we looked a little shaky on a couple of occasions.

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dannysigma added 02:43 - Jan 11 Being an Ipswich goalkeeper is getting to be like a Spinal Tap drummer.
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moyardmadman added 05:16 - Jan 11 luck of the irish i suppose a draw is better than loss but looking at tables we are .. now a point further away from 6th. to many draws to many losses and not enough wins lets face it roy is not the messiah and jim would most probably have us further up table based on all the previous available evidence.we should be looking for a new manager as well as a decent striker.leicester obviously have found a half decent manager why cant we.. man its so humid have to go for a swim maybe i,ll have another cold cider first

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mickeyjb added 08:35 - Jan 11 I agree with the posts above, all we are missing is a goal scorer, we have the fight and I think the quality in the midfield to run the show. So in my humble oppinion we just need one player so if we do have a couple of mill or so lets try and compete with Boro and the toon for that leeds guy. I though ALB did very well considering his background, one save he did would have had much more praise heeped upon it if it had been a prem game. I also agree thought Peters played very well, again. For a player to be able to be a defender one week an attacker the next then a midfielder, that has got to be an asset to any team. My final point is 20k and the Walkers stadium!!!!! By the look of the empty seets at the stadium it must be 60k seater stadium then!

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Bergholtblue added 09:12 - Jan 11 Roy Keane is telling it how it is. Everyone knows we need a 20+ goal striker, but they are just not out there, or they are setting their sights higher than a mid table championship side. I am not expecting anyone this transfer window. We are just going to have to get behind who we already have, to give them all our support, and hope they give their best back to us. And if that means applauding Lisbie if he turns out for us against Coventry, so be it. Anyone in a Town shirt will get my full support!

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kev_b20 added 09:25 - Jan 11 I dont think you can play Norris, Leadbitter and Colback in the same team..... They are all very similar players which gives you problems in the middle. I think Walters needs to stay out on a flank (preferably right, ut can do the job on left side) that is now his far best position... Why did he mess with the back 4???? Should have kept the back four the same as Bruce is NOT a full back, he is a centre half! Same gos to Pim, ok he can do the job there, but not his natural position... WHY HAVE 4 CB's ON THE FIELD WHEN YOU HAVE 2 FULL BACKS ON THE BENCH!! who have been doing the job brilliantly in the past few games....

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