Boss Roy Keane felt the game at Hull had 0-0 written all over it until Robert Koren’s second half strike consigned his side to their third successive defeat.

Keane said: “It probably looked like it had 0-0 written all over it and when you go away from home you would accept that, so it’s another difficult one to take.

“I think the effort and all that was fine. I think we could have done with a little bit more composure on the final ball, which is vital to win any game, even in the last 20 minutes when it got a bit hectic.

“We had one or two opportunities in the first half when we were breaking, Jack had one or two half chances, and Jason. That’s where we came up short today.

“I've no problem with the effort or the commitment from the players, that’s fine. But you just need that little bit extra to win football matches, particularly away from home.”

The Blues boss thought Koren’s goal might have struck one of his players its way through and believed his side had a couple of decent penalty claims when Tommy Smith and Connor Wickham appeared to be pulled back: “I think the goal took a deflection and I think there was probably a foul before that.

“I’m certainly not happy with two penalty decisions which we felt ought to have gone our way but we’ve now got to focus on the next game, lick our wounds and look to bounce back.”

Town’s away fans were supportive of the Blues boss despite the loss and the controversy regarding Keane’s criticism of last week’s booing.

The Irishman was unhappy that his side couldn’t give them something to celebrate: “We’re disappointed for them because they’ve travelled up and we know they paid good money and once again we’ve come up short. Disappointed, but we always are when we don't get the right result for the fans.”

Keane confirmed that defender Tom Eastman sustained a groin injury and will be struggling for next week’s game at Norwich, while David Norris was icing his ankle but Keane was hopeful that his skipper will be OK for the trip to Carrow Road.

Tigers boss Nigel Pearson was pleased to get the win: "It was important to get three points. It wasn't an easy game to win with the way in which they set up. We had to work very hard for it and there weren't many chances.

"But it was a good three points and much deserved. It wasn't the most fluent of games, but when we've had three home defeats on the trot there is always going to be a little bit of anxiety around.

"However, I thought we always tried to do the right things and we played some decent football at times, although without being too penetrating.”

Photo: Action Images

bluearmy4life added 20:08 - Nov 20 Bloooocd What does the FORK Stand for? I got a pretty good guess!!!!
0

alfromcol added 20:18 - Nov 20 Scotland up front on his own is not the answer, you can count on one hand the number of times he wins a header against the centre half. Nothing against Scotland, just the tactic. Where was Townsend today, a possible match winner in any game? Shane O'Connor are you still on the Town's books or have you gone out on loan and I missed the announcement? Why no Priskin at the start? Still trying to turn Eastman into a RB RK's tactics are somewhat suspect. Another boring game with few chances. Hard to see us ever scoring more than a single goal. The last run of games have been relegation form. However, unless RK walks I am afraid we are stuck with him until nearer the end of his contract.

0

JayITFC added 20:19 - Nov 20 It's got so bad that if a loss against scum next Sunday guaranteed Keane out on Monday morning I'd gladly take it (with the long term future of the club in mind).
0

Mark added 20:22 - Nov 20 We should NOT be happy to accept 0-0 draws against teams that are struggling! They may happen occasionally, but to go out looking for a 0-0 draw is something that we used to detest in other teams when we were an attacking team ourself. The worst thing is that we set ourselves up so defensively yet we still concede goals! There is then no way back due to the lack of attacking ability in the team selected, and I don't just mean strikers, I mean the lack of wingers and full-backs. 4 centre backs just IS NOT WORKING yet Keane persists with it match after match. It is costing this club dear as we slide down the table. Please Marcus Evans take some action and relieve Keane of his duties. Our funds are limited and in the January transfer window we need to wheel and deal wisely, so let's get a new man in now to give the squad a boost and assess what we need to do to take us forwards.

0

tomos91 added 20:26 - Nov 20 Who the hell are all you town supporters going on about Keane out Keane out. I used to like Keane as a manager brought in some good players but he is too focused on not harming them... instead of buying young players who he isn't going to play but anyway. You lot come on here and say Keane out... get behind the lads! if we beat naaarwich and then beat West Brom everyone will be singing Keane's praises. Yes its frustrating and we all want to tell Keane what to do but we are stuck with him so support your team IPSWICH TOWN cheer the lads on and we can show keano we have a 12th man at Portman road and we can do a Bolton.

0

h32 added 20:27 - Nov 20 What a blessing for the club that season tickets holders paid up front and will feel obliged to attend home matches whatever - otherwise I feel the crowd figures right now would be shocking. But what happens pre - next season if this rot continues ?? -things need to change, and fast, the end of the year approaches, and before you know it May will be here again.
0

I_8_NARWICH added 20:37 - Nov 20 Im still unsure about Keane. I dont think that a knee jerk reaction by saking him will help at all. I mean at the end of the day a new manager now still has the same team to use. I still think we should stick with him til Christmas and see where we are then. I dont know whether he is the right man for the job or not. I do doubt his tactics sometimes and that is the case again today. Playing 4-5-1 at a team who's home form has been woeful is just a bit bafferling surly after two defeats you would want to go all out for the win? And leaving Priskin on the bench, who has been our best player over the last few weeks? But then again he is still pretty inexpienced in terms of being a manager. So he may become good in time. So i really am stuck on the fence in terms of should he stay or should he go. But i am still increadlbly worried about next sunday i dont see us getting anything out of the game the way we are playing at the moment but i hope they can prove us wrong. COYB :/

0

evansblue added 20:37 - Nov 20 a narrow defeat to a team who have spent the last two seasons in the prem. Not too bad. Bring on the norwich. hopefully all the moaners will vote with their feet and give the west brom game a miss. Will mean i can watch it with fellow supporters who back the team.
0

h32 added 20:40 - Nov 20 All this utter cr-p about the 12th man on here from delusional people - what we need is:- A MANAGER WHO KNOWS HIS JOB. And please stop being impressed with a name only - you're probably people who must get his autograph after every match, and talk about it for the rest of the week - how sad.
0

truebluesince1992 added 20:51 - Nov 20 Keane one up front against a team that only scored 5 goals at home u walked out on utd Celtic Sunderland do us a favour!!!
0

h32 added 20:51 - Nov 20 evansblue - at this rate you lot will be the only one's left by the end of the season, you'll have plenty of space then. As if that will be in the best interests of the club - with your attitude maybe you should be watching the non professional game instead and find your space. Wishing people away from your club is plain stupid - I want to see success which will fill the ground to capacity, not a spare seat in front to put my feet.

0

scunnyblue added 20:54 - Nov 20 I was at the match today and we were really poor . playing Scotland up front on his own don't play to his strengths . lack width with the 4 center half and central midfield players . Looked a little better once we went 442 with peters on the left but hard to step out of that defensive minded game so late in the game . We got what we deserved from the game nothing. Hull are a very poor side but today we were league 1 standard in my opinion. Something needs to changed based on what i saw today. We need to get some width into the team and actually play to our strengths else this is going to be a very long season whereby we finish bottom half .

0

bobble added 20:54 - Nov 20 the manager is the 12th man.and he is the problem and has been since the start of last season and should have been sacked after the first 7 games then.we have dragged out a bad situation for more than a year.i cannot imagine any other club would be stupid enough to continue to employ a useless boring hasnt got a clue egotistic maniac who is now starting to blame the fans after using up all the other excuses.what is going on at this club ? do they want success here ?they overcharge and serve up junk football from a junk manager !.mr keane blaming the fans for not supporting his useless tactics was the final nail for me no more politeness mr keane go go...........norwich 2 us 0

0

Raedwald_625 added 20:58 - Nov 20 Tomos, you just don't get it son. It's the manner in which we play football that's the prob. We go out to get draws - and then we lose. We don't play decent football - this is IPSWICH lad! I don't know whether this Irish joke should stay or not, but decent football with the players we've got surely is possible.
0

whoppit added 20:59 - Nov 20 Look at the table Roy if you can be bothered !!! 13th place and you say that is progress?? Look at Bristol City who are 4th from bottom. We are only 4 points away from that club. But what do I know? I am just a fan and must be ignorant of where Roy is taking this club said Clegg. And I must also be ignorant of the progress that Keane talks about. What a load of bollock$. GO NOW KEANE OR GET RID OF MARCUS !!!!

0

whoppit added 21:02 - Nov 20 Oh one other thing Roy. Playing 4-5-1 usually goes have 0-0 written all over it you deranged muppet !!!!
0

debenhamsteve added 21:03 - Nov 20 Another disappointing display today with more negative tactics. Their winner came from a shot from 25yards out. I can't think of the last Ipswich goal scored from outside the box since RK took over? Can anyone else? If you don't shoot you don't score! No one seems to have the confidence or ability to do this. I fed up with seeing spectacular goals on the Football League Show and never from an ITFC player. However I think there has been an element of over-reaction during the last week but it has been fuelled by RK's comments. A win next week could change things but pigs might fly!

0

alfromcol added 21:16 - Nov 20 Even the Hull manager recognised RK's negative tactics "Tigers boss Nigel Pearson was pleased to get the win: "It was important to get three points. It wasn't an easy game to win with the way in which they set up. We had to work very hard for it and there weren't many chances.""
0

borge added 21:18 - Nov 20 What a sad situation we are in - bickering and infighting amongst ourselves. But I am quite happy to continue the argument with anyone who thinks that retaining Roy Keane is in the best interests of our club. I can only think that they have zero understanding of our heritage and ethos. It ain't about a lack of success, it is about a lack of decent football and worse than that, a lack of humility that now extends right through the club from players to the Chief Exec via the manager. Unfortunately this disease has now infected some of our more blinkered fellow 'supporters' who can't see beyond the 'x number of points off the play-offs' comment. We might only be 'x points off the play offs' but we are light years away from the fluid, entertaining football we have been privileged to watch over the years. We have no divine right to success and despite what some think, the majority can, have and no doubt will cope without it. As paying customers we do however have a right to entertainment. And so to my final point. Bluedragon's suggestion is a little over the top - why should we as fans stop watching OUR club? Better would be to boycot the first two minutes of the game, either by entering the stadium late, or turning our backs to the pitch for the first two minutes and then chanting our f*cking b*llocks off for the rest of the game. This would send a clear message to Keane, Clegg and Evans about what is acceptable and also show that we do all support our club, regardless of what they may think. Or is that childish....?!

0

hucks216 added 21:20 - Nov 20 Another prolonged period spent in the lower reaches of this division could have a very bad knock on effect for Town for next season. There are a lot of players out of contract at the end of the season and a relegation scrap is hardly going to be an incentive to sign on again which means alot of players can start talking to other clubs in January & leaving for no fees at the end of the season and Town having to replace them with little or no money.

0

alfromcol added 21:29 - Nov 20 Keane confirmed that defender Tom Eastman sustained a groin injury and will be struggling for next week's game at Norwich, - have we got another central defender to replace him or will RK have to recall Peters?
0

Mark added 21:47 - Nov 20 > have we got another central defender to replace him or will RK have to recall Peters? Troy Brown. It feels like we won't see full-backs again while Keane is in charge. Rosenior and Wright released, Peters has had little involvement recently, O'Connor has disappeared totally and even Ainsley has been sent out on loan. Re. the comments about knee-jerk reactions and singing Keane's praises if we beat Norwich and West Brom, my KEANE OUT verdict is a considered one based on Keane's total time in charge. I'd love to beat Norwich and West Brom and would give some credit if that happened (fair's fair) but I would still not think Keane is the man for this club.

0

donore added 21:55 - Nov 20 Just been to Hull (also to Scunthorpe and Nottingham Forest recently) and can report that if our players cannot head and hoof the ball instantaneously without looking around for support, they will not be considered for selection.......!
0

Reuser31 added 22:02 - Nov 20 Went to the game today, it's alarming how far downhill we've gone in the last couple of seasons, despite the money spent (Lee Martin anyone?). Keane has got to go, he is arrogant and tactically inept and lacks respect for the club and fans. Magilton's last game in charge was a win against Norwich. Hoping for a repeat on sunday, but if we play like today they'll destroy us. KEANE OUT

0

ignatiusjreilly added 22:04 - Nov 20 Borge; What a good idea re; the first two minutes facing away from the pitch, if that doesn`t get the message home i don`t know what would.
0

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls