Boss Roy Keane slammed his team’s second half performance as the Blues surrendered a 1-0 half-time lead to lose 3-1 at rock bottom Peterborough.

Keane said: "We live in the real world. We defend each other but when you have three thousand fans here to see you, you must be better.

"It is not good players that get you out of trouble, it is characters and in the last 25 minutes I never felt we were going to get back into it.

"I have defended the players this season as they have always given their all, but we died out in the second half and I need to put my finger on why tonight and we must do more.

"You can have 90% of the possession but if you don't score and don't defend set-pieces you will lose games.

"There is no hiding place. In any walk of life you have got to show some character and we had none."

The Blues boss felt a second first half goal would have settled the match in Town’s favour: "We got a foothold in the game but we didn't get that second goal that I think would have been enough to have won us the points.

"Their goal in the first minute of the second half changed the game. It was a crazy goal to give away. We had the kick-off, we didn't clear the ball, dived in for the challenge. I'm not sure it was a foul but you still have to defend the set-piece and we didn't do that.

"Their second goal was a good goal but the third was another set-piece and we have to be better than that.

"Credit to Peterborough, they took the game to us but our second half performance wasn't good enough. It was disappointing, frustrating - and a lot worse but you won't be able to print it!

"The last 20 minutes we lost that bit of spark and it looked as if we had played over the weekend and they had a few days off, not the other way round.

"I think we will be in the bottom three tomorrow night as other teams around us will pick up results.

"We had a fantastic following again but we let the fans down tonight and that's not acceptable. We have to make sure we bounce back on Saturday at Sheffield Wednesday."

Peterborough boss Jim Gannon made an important tactical change just after the half hour, taking off Craig Mackail-Smith, bringing on Reuben Reid and switching to a five-man midfield.

Gannon says he should have gone with that plan from the start: "I made a difficult decision to try and accommodate a certain player and I compromised my beliefs to get him in. I will never do that again.

"I was disappointed in myself as we looked poor in the first half an hour but I made the change and it was justified.

"Straight away Reuben gave us width and penetration and you could see signs from then that we would be more purposeful.

"We didn't show enough quality maybe but in the second half we had more tempo and certainly did enough.

"I just reminded them at the break about what we have been working on and we played my way after the break.

"I have learned a lot in my short time here and if we play like that for the majority of the remaining games then we will give ourselves a chance."

Photo: Action Images

matt_the_blue added 13:10 - Feb 17 Correct, wash your mouth out, there must be other examples other than the scum you could use. :P I agree most clubs generally have a "honeymoon period" with a new manager, but is that going to be enough to keep us up, can we find a manager that can keep results on the up after that period is over? bennyblue - That was a failed attempt at sarcasm, but I'll always have a beer with a fellow Blue, even if we do disagree about the gaffer.

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osborne1nil added 13:14 - Feb 17 Agree NSL, if you remember back even Keane won his first two matches (last year). Better to change now than wait until mathematically too late. I think BlueKnight85 said something about giving Keane a couple more games and imo this would be about right. See what the reaction is to last nights sham and if its 2 good results then let it see if it builds up steam and moves us up the table. If not then ME needs to make a decision. Perhaps its time for a Manager who isn't a rookie aka Magilton and Keane and someone who has been through this in the past (but please not Warnock)!

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Daleyitfc added 13:16 - Feb 17 He plays square pegs in round holes ; doesn't seem to know his best 11 ; chops and changes every game ; has weakened the squad with poor signings ; talks a good game but is tactically naive ; has to go. Who? Jim Magilton, last year. So what's changed? North to South ; little-known journeyman to media-favourite. But football wise? Nothing. Get rid.
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naaridge1coly7 added 13:18 - Feb 17 absolutely dire-KEANE OUT KEANE OUT KEANE OUT!!!!! Bring Back our saviour Mr George Burley.........or be relegated
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matt_the_blue added 13:20 - Feb 17 Surco - OK naff signings: Ben Thatcher Veliče Å umulikoski Kevin Lisbie Jon Stead (never particularly rated him in the first place) Plus anyone could've brought Plug back here which leaves you with Mac Norris and D.Wright. So I was wrong to say £12 mill on naff signings, but I don't think he was any better than Keane. And as for your manager alternatives, Warnock, Pardew, Mogga, Clarke or Boothroyd would not leave their present clubs to come here. Neither would Lambert plus once scum always scum. Curbs has said he'll only go back in at PL level, which leaves Keegan and Hoddle who again wouldn't want to come here and dare I say it both past their prime as managers.

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Keaneish added 13:23 - Feb 17 That result is nothing short of a disgrace! After the QPR game, who were a shower, we capitualte against a team already down. The first time i've said it this season, but we're in trouble now. 6 points from our next two games is a must.
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BeeneyITFC added 13:24 - Feb 17 just ask yourself, is RK going to get sacked? NO,, so for the sake of ITFC support them and try to stay positive. C'mon 16 games left, and lets start on saturday against Sheff wed. COYB !!
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Blueknight85 added 13:26 - Feb 17 Osbourne. i said it 4 times in fact due to an accidental copy + paste and then a double post lol. Surco you are nearly on the realms of common sense all good picks for manager except Warnock, Keegan + Pardew, no need to sell ourselves out to such poor characters we still have some morals i could be persuaded for Warnock as its more banter with him but Keegan and Pardew you would just want to constantly punch if you knew them especially Pardew

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Blueknight85 added 13:28 - Feb 17 wooo woooooo woooooooooo matt_blue sumilkoski was not a naf signing??? what on earth are you thinking? neither was jon stead at the time we had no money or attraction to get anyone better than stead when he was signed and he had good pedigree he scred 8 goals to keep blackburn up ill have you know lol and he scored 16 for us last season to keep us up
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matt_the_blue added 13:33 - Feb 17 OK maybe putting Stead on that list was a little harsh, but personally I really didn't rate Shumi at all.
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dirtydingusmagee added 13:36 - Feb 17 i agree Blueknight85,not a fan of Warnock the person,but as a manager he is streets ahead of Keane, deff not Keegan,Pardew, and sorry lads im not a great fan of Curbs although i would favour him over latter two.I Just cant see anything in Keane to make me feel optimistic . He has to go,sooner rather than later.
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BlueArmy82 added 13:40 - Feb 17 If we do not win saturday then I think Keane may have to go. As soon it will be to late for anyone to get us out of this trouble.
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ITFC1985 added 13:45 - Feb 17 not that i want Keane to get the boot, but didnt Magilton get the boot for less?
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finidigeorge88 added 13:50 - Feb 17 H'WAY THE LADS..
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cjpase1027 added 13:51 - Feb 17 this site is a joke! dunno y i bother reading all this sh*t
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Surco72 added 13:57 - Feb 17 Thatcher free Shumi 500,000,Lisbie 600,000 and Stead had a 1 in 3 record for us so cannot be described as a bad signing so you have come up about 1million Priskin,Martin,Edwards,Healy 4 million plus ? As for loans Noble,Dos Santos easily match any of Keanes loans And how do you know the managers would not leave their clubs if offered the job ? More money ,step up in league ,get back in football ?

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naa added 13:59 - Feb 17 cjpase1027: thanks for that. Because obviously there are plenty of positives to take from this season and last night aren't there? I do hope you're one of those who mistakenly thinks that to support a team doesn't mean we're allowed to criticise the things within it. After all, the club I support is being ruined by Keane's management. So, by the very definition of support, I need to criticise Keane to save the club I love. And anyway, it's amusing that your post appeared on page 6. Surely you could have given up well before if it was that sh1t

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Nunn_the_Wiser added 14:00 - Feb 17 Keane for player/manager!
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GerryCreaney added 14:06 - Feb 17 I love this forum. one win and everyone says where are the keane out booo boys now! one loss and they return chanting keane out!!!
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matt_the_blue added 14:12 - Feb 17 Surco - I think we'll just have to agree to disagree on the Jim signings issue. On the managers front you're right I don't know whether or not they would take the job, and if Keane did go and one of the decent ones from your list took the job I'd be pleasantly surprised. Personally I just can't see it happening but then again most of my friends describe me as a pessimist lol. naa - I agree, some of the slurs against people who are anti-Keane about their support for the club have been unfair. Likewise, some of the age/put downs put to pro-Keaners for presenting a different opinion have been equally unfair. There's bad eggs on both sides. While I don't agree with your opinion on the matter I will respect your right to voice it.

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cbower added 14:14 - Feb 17 Have to agree with BeeneyITFC. RK will not be sacked and he will not resign. Don't count myself as pro or anti-Keane, just an ITFC fan and I will give my support to the team whoever is in charge. Very poor second half though and matt the blue is right, the players have to shoulder their share of responsibility. 16 games to go and in a dogfight for survival. Not what I would have chosen and I expected a whole lot more. The fans deserve more. However, I will not turn on my team (and that includes the manager) 'cos my support (and yours too) can, I believe, make a difference. Still trying to stay positive although it is sometimes a struggle. Have said it before but will say it once more. What really gets me is a sense that some contributors on here are kind of enjoying Keane's lack of success and their Schadenfreude is very hard to take. His failure will do nobody any good at all! He will be here until the end of the season at the very least and we should want him to succeed. At this moment in time, success means avoiding the drop I'm afraid!

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brockleyblueboy added 14:15 - Feb 17 There's only one roy keane, one roy keane, walking along singing a song walking in a keane wonderland. Only joking. Why do people want Burley back? If I was to have the choice, Joe Royale would be the man for the job. However right at the begining of the season before I had a change of heart I thought at the end of the season we would be in League 1 with Matt Holland as our manager. Not feeling so daft any more. PS I am really hoping RK turnes it around. Manily so I can laugh in the faces of Surco, dirtywhateverhisnameis and all the other Keane boo boys. (Hoever I think you guys will get your way and he will be gone in the next fortnight)

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peakyboy added 14:33 - Feb 17 roy is here for 2 seasons, like it or lump it. i think you will find a certain mr bobbby robson, was hated by the players for the first 2 seasons he was at ipswich, and everyone wanted him out! so give keane a chance! infact most of you so called town fans, know nothing about football, or have even played at a high level. so all of the opinions are infact worthless.
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Blueknight85 added 14:34 - Feb 17 brockleyblueboy...dont let anything hold you back laugh at them anyway
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Marshalls_Mullet added 14:36 - Feb 17 I will be at Hillsborough on sat giving the team my support. Have been backing RK, but struggling now. Here's a thought though... wouldn't it be nice to have a manager who is not bigger than the club. We be good to be Ipswich Town again, rather than 'Roy Keanes Ipswich'.
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