Carling Cup goal hero Grant Leadbitter says the players were well aware that they had let everybody down with their performance at Norwich last Sunday and didn't need Roy Keane to tell them. The 24-year-old netted the penalty which saw the Blues bounce back and beat West Brom 1-0 on Wednesday, setting up a two-legged Carling Cup semi-final against Arsenal.

Leadbitter said: “If you’ve got anything about you as a footballer you want a reaction from yourself. It didn’t need a rollicking from the manager to tell us how bad we were.

“We all knew we had let him, ourselves and the fans down. It was vital that we got back on track.”

The ex-Sunderland man says the squad are still backing Keane: “We are all solidly behind the gaffer. He is always positive and drives us forward. The fact that he takes the pressure off us is a massive factor.”

Leadbitter hopes that Wednesday’s cup win can give a boost to the club’s league form: "This could be the turning point and we want to go now to get a result against Swansea because we don't want to be dropping down that league, we want to be getting in touch with the top six again.

"We want to be in the play-off places. We had a very good start in the first 10 games, but we have let that slip over the past month or so.

"Everyone in the dressing room is disappointed and we want to get back to winning ways on Saturday to get a little run going again."

Longer term, the midfielder is looking forward to Arsenal’s visit to Portman Road: "The first leg at home will be good for our fans and we can get a full house. It is something our fans need.

"This is what football is all about - you want to play the top teams. I want to go on to be a top player, and play against the top players in the country - that is what the boys are looking forward to do."

Leadbitter has already scored against Arsenal, a 25-yarder for Sunderland at the Stadium of Light in October 2008, the midfielder subsequently kissing the spot on the pitch where his father's ashes had been scattered.

That match ended in a draw and Leadbitter hopes to go one better with the Blues: “I played for Sunderland against Arsenal and scored in a 1-1 draw but I’ve yet to be on the winning side against them. They are one of the best footballing teams in the world but we will give it our best shot.”

Photo: Action Images

Garv added 23:37 - Dec 2 Rarely hear from this guy, re. headline i should flaming hope so! Good pen lad keep putting them away. I really can't work out whether i like him or not though. Inconsistant set peices, corners poor but can on his day deliver a good ball from a free kick (delaney goal aginst scum) but then can do awful ones (a few minutes later at scum!). Can do mopping up in midfield well every now and then but cant see him dancing through a few players and slotting one away, or putting a killer ball into the striker. And it would be nice to actually see him score one of these 25-yarders for us - have seen him do it for Sunderland! Hmmmm. Keane out.

0

Big_Foot_Blue added 23:53 - Dec 2 Nice one Garv, even on a positive post which barely mentions Keane you still get a cheeky "Keane Out" in there. GET A GRIP PEOPLE! The majority want Keane out (including me) but what is the point of constantly asking for him to go since we all know Marcus Evans doesn't have the balls to sack him. Lets not talk about him unless the story is about him. Anyhow, moving on. Leadbitters penalty was class on Wednesday, coolness personified. The Semi's of a national competition is a fantastic achievement and we should all enjoy the 2 legs against Arsenal since it could be a while till we see that kinda team at portman road again. If the players truley believe they can win then great! Personally I dont think we will beat them but if any upset is even slightly possible the players need to believe it can. Lets actually play well on the TV on saturday and have a really good lunch time game against a very good passing team. Same line up for Saturday except Edwards for Lambe and maybe Delaney at the back. Otherwise bring on Saturday and all the big cup games coming up. COYB's!

0

bobble added 00:23 - Dec 3 we knew we let everyone down at norwich .what about the 6 games before that ?......keane out
0

bobble added 00:33 - Dec 3 4pts above the dropzone well done to the manager and the team what a happy xmas they are going to give us
0

Keaneish added 00:47 - Dec 3 Woha...there. Lets reign this in a little before it gets over blown. Last night was an excellent result....against an abysmal WBA reserves side who had 1 outlet to rely on all game. We won by a penalty although it could have been much more...it wasn't. There were some excellent performances and some sound, yet forced tactical/team selections. It's great to be in the semis....BUT... ...this is NOT a new dawn. Nothing has changed yet so lets definitely not get carried away. We beat Swansea in the same manner, then we'll open it up on this forum about corner turning. Until then, it's still...FORK.

0

vulcher added 01:22 - Dec 3 We need to concentrate on the league, congrats to the lads for getting in the semis but we can't let it distract us in the league. We need to build on wednesdays performance and climb up the table otherwise we r in a relegation battle, simple as! 3 points on saturday, COYB! Same 11, but lambe dropped for edwards!
0

footyblue added 01:33 - Dec 3 Big_foot_blue why bring delaney back he cost us the game on sunday and Troy Brown deserves a chance he is strong quick and right footed and help us keep a clean sheet I'll agree Edwards in for Lambe but the rest played very well and should be in the team for Saturday.
0

Garv added 01:55 - Dec 3 Well big foot I like to add my main opinion each time so people like you don't group me in with people who supposedly begin to 'love' keane again after one win. On the flip side I have to put keaneish in the opposite category! You sir have certainly changed your tune!
0

Garv added 01:59 - Dec 3 P.s keane out.
0

vulcher added 02:19 - Dec 3 Think keane deserves a few more games, hopefully he has learnt a lot from wednesday. If we lose r next few league games then he has to go but maybe this cup win will kick start us. Will be gutted if keane fails, but he needs results asap
0

michaeldownunder added 02:44 - Dec 3 what ever you think about Marcus Evans if you ask anyone who has worked for him, he is a hard nosed buisness man who has the balls to sack anyone.
0

Fen69 added 05:25 - Dec 3 If Delaney is back in?, lets hope Keane plays him left central defender and not on the right, every time he plays him on the right he struggles and we have paid for it, left back/left central defenders need left footers & right back/right central defenders need to be right footers because every time we get this wrong we are being punished!
0

truckertractorboy added 05:44 - Dec 3 Y bring delaney back troy done really well after sunday delaney will have to earn his place back . I know wba where not at there best but y cant some of u just enjoy a good town performance a good run has to start somewhere
0

Karlosfandangal added 08:17 - Dec 3 Keane in Keane in
0

bobble added 08:18 - Dec 3 sack keane evans
0

SurreyITFC added 08:24 - Dec 3 Well Said Grant. Let's now see you & The Boys putting a winning league run together starting tomorrow. COYB
0

Legend added 08:44 - Dec 3 Bobble.................Go and support another team as this club does not need fickle, fake, moaning, negative, idiotic fans like you!! G.I.T.S !!! C.O.Y.B !!!
0

Cotton_eyed_joe added 09:40 - Dec 3 Bobble - 'we knew we let everyone down at norwich .what about the 6 games before that ?......' Well said friend. Just cause we won one game it doesn't make Keane great again. He has been crud since he got here and the 'Fickle' fans are those who think one win and Keane is great not those who can see the bigger picture.
0

BlueistheColor added 10:03 - Dec 3 I am a true blue and I support the team and the manager 100% was really please we won on Wednesday but my worry is that it came from a penalty we didn't actually score, neither did they! we had loads of chances and still didn't take them!!! COYB I so want a win on Saturday!!!
0

sonian_blue added 10:22 - Dec 3 Well said 'Blueisthecolour' Count me in. COYB Boys
0

brittaniaman added 10:26 - Dec 3 I think we won against WBA because everyone had written us off that night, even myself I went down expecting to lose, but I am so glad I braved the cold and witnessed a great turn around from the team and manager, who by the way he actually stood up and got behind the team instead of just sitting there, round pegs in round holes, hunger, enthusiasm, a good atmosphere,and great support from a small crowd. I went home feeling that I had good value for my money at long last !!! I do hope this carry on through to Sat. please !!! COYB

0

johnson added 10:55 - Dec 3 Bobble out!
0

blue_em_away added 11:21 - Dec 3 Sod off bobble! Your posts are pointless and a waste of internet space. Thankfully most people ignore you, just a pity everyone doesn't. Whoops! I'll ignore you now. Maybe you should take your big wooden spoon to the pink'en.....bye
0

bobble added 11:26 - Dec 3 now exactly who is fickle on here ?idiots..keane out
0

camposlocks added 11:32 - Dec 3 keane out campo in!! Back to 4-5-1 against swansea. the best form of defence is negative tactics...... i bet magilton is feeling very content at how keane has dismantelled his whole squad and rebuilt a league 1 squad. FORK
0

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls