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

brockleyblueboy added 14:50 - Feb 17 Who was that guy saying he hates this site. This has been a great back and forth of true town fans. we all want whats best for the team at the end of the day and I love how we all have the same best interest at heart yet different ways of going about it. I reckon we could become the UN ;-) Great debate lads and lasses. Would it be too muych to ask for Bluechick to get her wabs out to cheer us all up! Nope, ok fair plays. Roll on the owls on Saturday and lets hopefully get 3 points :-)

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nyle123 added 14:52 - Feb 17 Come on people keep the faith!! We lost last night - get over it!! This is where our club needs us most!!! Forget last night and move on, COYB!!!!! IPSWICH TILL I DIE!
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dirtydingusmagee added 15:18 - Feb 17 Brockleywhateveryournameis, please laugh away,if this site is a sorce of amusment thats good ,not much fun coming from results ,
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Surco72 added 15:19 - Feb 17 Keanes Boys i take no pleasure in the fact that my team is in the dire situation that we find ourselves and i will back Keane to the hilt if he turns it around and we push on from here as surely any Ipswich fan would ,i merely have voiced my concerns over where i think he is taking us (at the moment backwards and downwards). As for laughing at the ones who have been proved right all season for daring to see Keane is not doing a good job, brockley and blueknight both called for his head last night !!!! Should i be laughing at you for how you keep defending Keane and saying how much we are improving ? I for one hope you are both laughing in my face at the end of the season if it means we have a good run of form from now ,we will see

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Blueknight85 added 15:28 - Feb 17 Surco its the nature in which you have slammed Keane from the start with no justification that should be laughed at just because you flipped a coin and decided he wasn't going to be any good from the start does not mean you cant be laughed at because it might turn out to be true. And for the record i have not turned on Keane my comment clearly said if he can keep his job and keep us up we could have a great season with him next year but if things don't improve over the next two matches its better to replace him and have a fresh start now to try and save us as a new manager and fresh start can almost instantly pull the players out of a slump

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brockleyblueboy added 15:50 - Feb 17 Dirtystartingtothinkyourabitofaledgend - If we didn't laugh we would cry. Like I previously said we all want whats best for Club, some want Keane out some want Keane to stay and like Surco says, I don't think any of us would mind eating humble pie if it meant the club moves forward. I value everyones point of view and I know in the past I have been a real d*ck about going about it in the past but we are all on the same side. The problem is no matter what we think, say or chant, its the fellas in the boardroom that make the decisions and we have to back the club to the hilt becuase that is who we are - the fans. Whether we are in the premier league or the confernece, you cut any of us and we bleed blue (especially you blueknight, you may be royalty) We don't sing Ipswich till we die for nothing. COYB

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matt_the_blue added 16:06 - Feb 17 I'll agree with brockleyblueboy - I've said before and I'll say again if Keane goes I will put my hands up and say I was wrong. I think the important thing now is for everybody to get behind the team make some noise for the tractor boys - home and away!
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BeeneyITFC added 16:20 - Feb 17 All we can do is hope last night, gives them a good kick up the backside and we push on upwards. COYB! (please lol)
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orbell18 added 16:21 - Feb 17 The last 60 minutes of that game were the wrost I have seen us play for a while, as soon as they equalised we gave up! I am embarrased about yesterdays performance. It is the first time I have doubted Keane as a manager, his substitutes were pointless except maybe counago. Why he took Garvan off I'll never know!! I'm not one for sacking managers left right and centre but we simply have to do better than that. Bring on Shef Wed! COYB

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Kesgrave4 added 16:25 - Feb 17 I am no fan of Roy Keane he never plays the same team twice, unsettled team,sorry he not got a clue make no mistake we will go down this is not about last nights result he has to go!! what makes matters a lot worse Norwich will come up as we go down. Kesgrave4
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Surco72 added 16:29 - Feb 17 Blueknight you have the wrong man , i have not slammed Keane from the start i thought he was the right appointment for the job to take us to the next level and attract big names,i have only ever said i do not agree with the "how well Roy is doing crap " when this has been a dreadful season and he has not proved himself at Town . Everyone wants the same thing for town to do well ,and i will continue to watch all games whoever is in charge and whatever league just dont think Keane is the right man. And as for flip of a coin decision try league position,poor signings,poor tactics ,poor entertainment majority,poor treatment of players,publicly criticising players ,getting rid of young talent who may or may not make it would have been nice to see . What i want to know is can you list as many good things he has done for the club to have your adored support ?

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brockleyblueboy added 16:53 - Feb 17 The only reason I back Keane is because he is the Ipswich manager. I don't want to be one of those clubs that changes their manager more times than the players change their socks. I don't want to be a QPR. I am a firm believer of standing by the manager. Some call it blind faith and stupid, fair enough but the more the boat rocks, the more it is likely to tip over and sink. The one thing it has proved is that if it wasn't for Finidi George, we wouldn't be in this mess ;-)

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thechangingman added 16:55 - Feb 17 The support last night was amazing and I was proud to stand among them! I had my 17year old Peterborough supporting son with me as he was willing to give his ol' dad a bit of moral support in what was an important fixture for us. Pre and early match Town support was incredible and my son was hugely impressed that so many had turned up and were making such an almighty noise - especially given the season we've had... We all know about the game and to be honest its still a bit too raw to rake over it again. My son, lovely lad that he is, didn't stick the boot into Town but gently suggested that we, "really didn't have any ideas/had no strike-force whatsoever and an appalling defence..." It don't look good folks. Last night was utterly gutless and, sad to say, embarrassing. Keane? We clearly each have our own pretty much entrenched thoughts about this fella (he's always encouraged total polarity of views wherever he's been) but overall I really don't see him as being the very best way forward for our club. I am not basing this on one lamentable night - come on folks, this has been a BAD season and I am sorry to say that I can't see it getting any better. For me, I would love to see Burley back. He loves the club, we love him, he's had a lot more experience since he was last round our way - one more time for the greater glory of the club? That's where I'd put my money anyway... (Brad: thanks for a great night out and I hope that Peterborough stay up - to say the least, they have a GREAT deal more fight and passion and enterprise and skill than we've had all season...)

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edd16 added 16:57 - Feb 17 sack Keane and I say bring back Jim Magilton look at when has was at QPR he was in the top ten with them but as soon as he got sacked they went down hill look at them now they are only 1 point above us come on Jim we need you back
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edd16 added 17:01 - Feb 17 Super, Super Jim, Super, Super Jim, Super, Super Jim, Super Jim Magilton...
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GetInTheGameScowcrof added 17:06 - Feb 17 Great support last night, loved the flares in the standing end!! The old bill just stood and watched - Brilliant work! We started the game superbly, looked solid at the back, closing down in midfield was superb, winning every 2nd ball, we just should have gone in at half time with a bigger lead than 0-1. The second half was one of the worse performances i've ever seen from a town side. To be fair the lad took a dive for the free kick which led to their first goal, but we should be defending set pieces better than that! Fair play to Gannon because as soon as Peterborough changed it by bringing off Makail-Smith and sending on Reid to attack us down their right we were screwed. They knew Colback isn't a natural left back, and he just creamed past him time after time. It was embarrassing. You have to feel sorry for Colback being asked to play out of position like that. What the hell has David Wright done wrong to not get in the team at left back? I understand why Roy tried to change it by bringing Peters on to combat Reid's pace, but he's not a frigging left back either! We looked shoddy down that side throughout the whole second half, especially when Garvan went off. I thought Lee-Barrett had another good game, in fact he made some bloody good saves in the second half to keep the score down! Rosenior, Mac, and Delaney were all solid enough. Colback was massively disappointing at left back, and then in central mid later. Walters gave his all as usual, Leadbitter was playing well so must've been injured to have gone off. Norris was good throughout, and Garvan was ok. We just lost our way in the second half when we conceded, and did the usual knocking the long ball forward which their defence just lapped up. Murphy up front was class, with better sevice he would score more goals easily. Healy was majourly disappointing. He doesn't look fit or interested in the game, and looks way off the pace. Pablo was just as disappointing when he came on. Three points is a must at Sheff Weds on Sat, and even I'm starting to think that Keane may have been the wrong appointment, and if we don't win over the next couple of games it may be time for him to go? Christ knows who we'd get in to replace him though. I was bloody angry on the drive home last night, so he must've torn the town team a new arse for that 2nd half performance. Oh yeah, just thought i'd mention how crap London Road was as a ground. Unless you're 5ft 2, your legs are not going to fit in the chairs! Bloody funny too, when the Peterborough tannoy annoucer announced a Code "Foxtrot" too!!!

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jas0999 added 17:18 - Feb 17 Agree the support was very good last night, and although I am not going to make any effort to defend Keane and the players for an abysmal 45 minutes of 'football', I am afraid I don't agree that he should be sacked: a) would bringing another manager in at this stage of the season with all to play for help or hinder - I would suggest hinder - it would bring too much disruption b) Can we afford to get rid of him and his backroom staff plus attract another high quality manager in our current position. Suggest it's highly unlikely. I doubt ME will even consider sacking Roy. I still hope he will come good - but the table doesn't lie.

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MazzaCOYB added 17:22 - Feb 17 Kevinscoles that is a fantastic post, thank you. You have hit the nail on the head, there is always a chance of 6 points and as long as there is a chance I am the same as you. See you Saturday with optimism and confidence!
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Blueknight85 added 17:26 - Feb 17 guess upson has reacted well to Keane's criticism...nice bit of management. and shane o'conner must have read my comment about getting himself noticed Reserve leagues defiantly need sorting out though back to the old way its a joke how its run
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BeeneyITFC added 17:27 - Feb 17 lets have the same support on saturday, UptheTown! just dont wanna feel on sunday how i felt this morning :-( COYB!
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lozklein added 17:31 - Feb 17 I made a forum comment back in Oct 09, after the 0-0 home draw with Watford, that Keane should go....not surprisingly I was slated by the Keano poodles on the forum for that comment then.....well, I hate to say I told you so....we would have been in a much better league position had someone else taken over way back then....
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TractorRoyNo1 added 17:32 - Feb 17 The players and management do not deserve the support they get, they should feel ashamed that they couldn't beat Petebog in 3 attempts this season. Let's hope they put that right at Sheffield. I fear that a team made up of so many loanees will not have the guts to put their lives on the line to fight for our club.
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stinkiusminkius added 17:50 - Feb 17 Jas0999 and others who dont think we should get rid of Keane NOW - I think you have to ask whether we can afford NOT to sack him!!! Surely the squad we have is better than a lot in this league but Keane cant get it out of them. I was not keen on him from day one, but did think that maybe one thing he would bring to us would be some fight and passion from the players, but even that doesnt seem to have materialised. Plus add in his apparent complete lack of tactical knowledge, strange rotations, chopping and changing players positions, to name just a few of his faults, and the sooner he goes the better. Lets give a new manager enough time to install some confidence and fight in the team, and someone who wont be out-thought tactically be virtually every other manager in the division. Time is running out. Depressing.

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stoofer added 17:56 - Feb 17 im sorry to be having a go at keane,but he is becoming undefendable.lets face it well back at the start of the season we were shipping plenty of goals keane got lucky by stumbling across our back four which for a while put some decent performances in,now he plays colbeck there, why ?.we are struggling to still score goals so he lets our leading goalscorer out on loan,and our second half poor performances havent happened overnight but he seems to have no idea how to stop the rot ,not good enough keane, this is where you earn your money, show us you have the ability we thought we were getting when you signed. coyb.

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osborne1nil added 18:16 - Feb 17 IMO, if by the time we play the next home game against Bristol City and we only have 1 or no more points then the pressure will really be on to win. All season I have been hoping for Town to pull it all together and give someone a real thrashing, looks unlikely. We couldn't even beat Southampton in the cup! Last time I was this depressed about Towns season was when McGiven took over from Lyall. We have managed to break a few records this season, unfortunately all poor ones! I wonder how many goals the midfield have managed to score in total this season so far? Definately no enough, even Leadbetter has hit a dry spell of late, very worrying. COYB

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