Managers Roy Keane and Gordon Strachan were agreed that Town deserved their 3-1 opening day victory at Middlesbrough. Tommy Smith, Tamas Priskin and Jon Stead netted the goals for the Blues in the second half after Scott McDonald had put the home side in front before the break. Keane also said he hopes to make two signings this week.

Keane was delighted to get off to a winning start, particularly after last season’s 14-game winless run, and was pleased with the performance: “I thought we played well, I had a good feeling before the game. There was good energy amongst the players, a good spirit and pre-season went OK.

“We’ve lost a lot of players and sometimes that creates its own little bit of spirit. I thought we deserved to win the game, we got stronger as it went on.”

The Blues boss wasn’t particularly concerned when Boro went in front: “We were quite relaxed even at half-time, although disappointed with the goal, but I felt we came back into it.

“We started the second half very, very well and should have had a penalty, David Norris was a yard inside the box, but there was good energy and we looked a threat.

“Having said that, Middlesbrough had a few chances, but what we didn’t do last year was take the chances we had, but today we did, with Tamas and Steady scoring two very good goals.

“That will be the difference as to whether we’re going to be competing near the top half of the table. You get these chances and you have to take them and we did that today, but it’s just one game.”

Keane was happy with the performances of his young players but was concerned about new additions to the injury list with Carlos Edwards limping off with a groin injury and likely to be out for a few weeks, Mark Kennedy suffering a hamstring problem and Gareth McAuley and Grant Leadbitter both complaining of back injuries.

The Blues boss says he will consider withdrawing McAuley from the Northern Ireland squad: "We will have to look at pulling Gareth out of the international game this week. Hopefully Tamás and Márton come back from their game without any problems because we are a week into the season and we are already down to the bare bones.

"I haven't even thought about my team for Tuesday, other than to say that the youngsters will be involved."

Keane said he is hoping to make two signings before the Carling Cup tie at Exeter, but played down links with Wigan striker Jason Scotland, although reports elsewhere claim the Trinidad and Tobago international will join Town on Monday.

Boro boss Strachan similarly felt that the Blues were the better side on the day: “I thought the best team won.

“First half we were all right but then I thought the deflection was a bit unfair, it was going well wide, but after that we really needed to settle down for five minutes and we didn’t do that.”

Strachan thought his team ought to have made more of their second half opportunities: “At 2-1 we had two massive chances one-for-one but we didn’t take them, so we’ll have to blame ourselves for getting beat and say well done to Ipswich for doing well and taking their chances.”

Photo: Action Images

Tillz9 added 18:39 - Aug 7 Excellent result and sounded like we played well on the radio. Must admit I was a bit worried about this game but hopefully the result will give us a confidence boost and we can push on.
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Jewell_do added 18:40 - Aug 7 I never look at the table 'til 10 games in but I suggested 2 weeks ago that getting rid of deadwood and not replacing them with 4 or 5 might be the thing to do. Season after season the squad hasn't gelled enough. Now these lot have been together 12 months. Get a point vs Burnley and that would be a superb start. What will Keane do......? Priskin and Stead net so does he spend 4 or 5 mil on 2 new strikers???

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Super_Hero added 18:48 - Aug 7 Keane has done is homwork this summer. Scrapping playing tours abroad to stay in the changing room practising formartions etc. So far so good. Keanoooooo!
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hogster1970 added 18:48 - Aug 7 well what can i say, thought a draw away would be a great result and may be a score atleast 1 goal, but no in good old ipswich fashion they played well moved the ball well and scored 3 goals and killed bough off, something they didnt do all of last year and priskin scored and hit the bar and stead got one to. but just hope we dont get to many injuries for next sat and we can back it up with a good display , this is were we see how much steel is in the team. but again well done boys and keep it up

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meekreech added 18:49 - Aug 7 We still need a regular goalscorer even though Priskin can now kick on to show his true self . with that other lot ( spit spit ) losing it has been a great start to the season .
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mugsykets added 18:52 - Aug 7 Ah, yes, Priskin, always knew he'd do well! Always said that. (didn't I?) Well done lads ~ what a boost. I know it's just one result but let's enjoy it and build on it. (Remember, it was halloween before we got a win last season!) Still be pleased if Sir Roy of Keane bought a couple of quality strikers this week! P.S. Is it just me but has anyone noticed that when we get a win, there's only a few comments on here...but get a defeat, and it's flooded with negative, whinging, 'Keane out' comments? Does that mean that most of you just enjoy a good moan and are incapable of praise? Just thinking aloud.

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jas0999 added 18:55 - Aug 7 Well done to Roy Keane and his Ipswich team. Too early to get carried away. Stead did well today but is still not in favour with Roy. I think he will still bring in at least one proven striker.
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Youth added 18:56 - Aug 7 excellent dispkay lads keep it up, well played priskin we are behind you 110percent
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Blueknight85 added 18:56 - Aug 7 It's so refreshing to not see the usual negative twonks on here. and so refreshing to see priskin get off the mark when iv backed him since day 1 :D i would buy 1 stiker 1 right back and get a winger of some shape or form on loan
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Sheva added 19:00 - Aug 7 Great way to start off. We just have to keep taking chances, that's what this league is about.
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SurreyITFC added 19:04 - Aug 7 Great Win - Well done to Keano & The Boys. Great to see Priskin get off the mark in the first game, it will give him the world of confidence. COYB - Keano Keano Keano
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blrmy added 19:04 - Aug 7 A superb result and only a handful of comments. Are the members of this site so anti everything?? A bad day for the boo boys then (majority of members by the lack of comments, wait til we lose......!!!!). A brilliant start to the season.
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hadleighboyblue added 19:10 - Aug 7 The manager deserves credit for using a formation that suited the players and for playing young Hyam as part of that formation . sounds like the players responded with a determined performance , great stuff and so pleased Priskin scored - there's goals to come from him
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bedsitfc added 19:13 - Aug 7 yipee!!!!!!! not sure if we should spend 4 mil on chopra, get scotland in for 750k and get a RB (still not sure on peters) then maybe a few squad players. really hope priskin settles in now his buddy is on the pitch with him and he gains some confidents from the goal today. well done town.
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gypo added 19:18 - Aug 7 Well done to the boys and of course the guvner keano. This result might just have sold the club to our 3 ? new faces. I know its the first game but let's see some humble pie eaten and all those w*nk*rs that have slated keane give a bit of praise for the excellent result today .
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gibbo added 19:20 - Aug 7 Just need a left sided player then, we played very well, a good back 4 Norris or Hyam my man of the match. Made a great change that the keystone cops dvd was dropped from the halfteam team talk.
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SouperJim added 19:20 - Aug 7 Trying to keep my feet on the ground, football is about very fine margins. A fantastic result, lets hope we can get some momentum over the coming weeks, win 2 of the next 3 and we might never look back!
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Mark added 19:22 - Aug 7 Excellent result today. Maybe the start to the season was a reverse of last year, as Middlesbrough spent big and were expected to win and so all the pressure was on them. It's great to see the youngsters in the side, and most rewarding of all was to see goals from Ipswich strikers: well done Priskin and Stead (should we still sell the latter for £200K?!). If we can bring in a decent striker and with Wickham to come back too, perhaps we will have fire power this year after all?

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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 19:24 - Aug 7 Great result . In fact a great weekend all round. Sounded on the radio as if Hyam had a good game - I'd be interested to hear the opinions of people actually at the match on him and the other players' performances. The injuries are a bit worrying. We could be undone by them just as we are getting our act together, so a couple more players in (at least) is still a priority. Hopefully this will happen sooner rather than later. Thumbs up to the ITFC away support - clearly heard on the radio commentary. Bet it was worth the journey today!

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BoredWithThisNow added 19:36 - Aug 7 Cracking stuff. Must admit to still being in a state of shock but credit where credit's due. And Five Live said we looked assured and confident in our passing - after last season's debacle I didn't think I'd hear that under the stewardship of Keane. Long may it continue.
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bigdan added 19:52 - Aug 7 Good stuff. Bringing on the young players, passing properly. Now that sounds like a real Ipswich team. Long may it continue. Come on yoooouuuuuu blues.
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4-4-2 added 20:04 - Aug 7 good to see our current strikers off the mark but we still need extra fire power up the front of the pitch but not to take anything away from today, well played lads, glad to see priskin getting a goal
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Jesney_Havoc added 20:06 - Aug 7 What a megga result. Lets get a winning habit now. That Priskin goal might prove to be very important. C O Y Bluuuues
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OrkneyBlue added 20:06 - Aug 7 Superb start to the season. It is only one game so we need to keep our feet on the ground but we also need to embrace this win, at the favs for the title i might add, and build on it vs Burnley next weekend. Many plus points by the sounds of things but the one thing i notice looking at the goals on sky sports news, especially Steads, was the whole team celebrating together and not just the usual 'high five' from a few but a proper team huddle.Thoroughly delighted!

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northernblue added 20:08 - Aug 7 Great game today, great to hear us outsing the rest of the stadium all game, even when a goal down. Priskin's goal obviously meant a lot to him from his celebration, hopefully he can push on. Walters played well (unfortunately), as did Stead,and the team in genereal, however i agree that we maybe need another right back as Peters did get beaten a couple of times too many, both in the air and physically. But fantastic result and great support, couldn't have asked for a better start to the season.

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