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

Big_Foot_Blue added 11:54 - Dec 3 footyblue I think you'll find I said "MAYBE bring Delaney in"...MAYBE. and I nether said if you do then take out Brown so please dont put words in my mouth. I was thinking more alongthe line of O'Deas GF possibly going into labour so putting Smith left back and Delaney partner Brown
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bluearmy4life added 11:58 - Dec 3 We play really well and get a cracking win and there is still fans moaning? Give the team a bit of credit where it's due. When the team have played poor and the manager gets thing wrong then we have every right to complain. I know things are not perfect but lets just hope we can get are season back on track. If we can't then changes will happen. But up untill that point get behind the blues.

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dirtydingusmagee added 12:40 - Dec 3 dont know what to expect Saturday,the Cup game,defied most predictions,and it seems the team played best football of season.Well pleased with result.Can the fortunes rub off and things get back on track,well i dont know,cup matches are always ''different''.Be pleased to see results improve now, Keane will have got a reprieve i suspect[if the axe was coming] so its going to be interesting couple of weeks . COYB

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truckertractorboy added 13:04 - Dec 3 Chill big foot was not having ago unlike some people on here I do realise other people have their opinions as well lol still dont think there is any maybe about troy brown him and j peters played well together
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Back_The_Boss added 13:41 - Dec 3 Shocking result against the canaries but beating West Brom is the perfect response. COYB!
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Big_Foot_Blue added 13:56 - Dec 3 Again trucker putting words in my mouth. I never said Brown or Peters out I said maybe Delaney in and the explained if O'Deas girlfriend goes into labour thats where delaney would go. I will happuly chill when people read my comments properly before disecting them apart (if you can read my awful spelling) ;)
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truckertractorboy added 14:24 - Dec 3 Its all good fun really big foot we could on for hrs about people slagging each other off on here lol we have all got our own opinion on the best for our much loved blues lets all hope for what ever team mr rk plays they play with the heart they did on wed night against the baggies
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WickedBlue added 14:35 - Dec 3 @Big Foot Blue (you wrote) **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.** The majority? Where is your proof for this statement? Has there been a vote? Did every supporter get a vote? I know I didn't. A lot do want Keane out I agree but I have seen no proof it is the majority. Oh and don't be so foolish as to use the EADT poll as your proof. A Norwich newspaper and those polls allow anybody even scum fans to vote as many times as they like. Your next statement that ME hasn't got the balls to sack RK? Do you work for McDonald's? It is obvious you have never been in management let alone own your business. ME has built a multi million pound business and you think he is scared to fire somebody?!?!? That is laughable in the extreme. ME probably hasn't fired RK because he doesn't want to fire RK yet. He will decide when he feels it is time and not be forced into the decision by people like you (as if you could). I don't care if you want RK gone, but don't make up crap to back up your choice. As for me I am neither an inner or outter I am a 'It's not my decision and I am going to support the team regardless of who is in charger.'

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Blueulster added 14:45 - Dec 3 Lets hope Roy sticks with those that did us proud on Wednesday night. I do agree that Lambe should drop to the bench but not sure whether Peters or Edwards should start at RM. Peters either plays there or at right back.
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hamster153 added 15:06 - Dec 3 WE ARE GOING UP, WE ARE GOING UP!!!! COYB KEANO KEANO!!!
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Big_Foot_Blue added 15:18 - Dec 3 Wicked blue All last season I was a keane inner. All this season until after norwich I was neither an inner or an outer like yourself. Before west brom I decided I was an outer and although we played very well against west brom I wont be changing my opinion back until I see us improve in the league. As for supporting the team, dont try and act better than me thank you. I was "chilling out and enjoying myself" after trucker and me had finished our enjoyable comment tennis but this has riled me again. I will always support the team no matter who the boss is. Ive supported us since I was 6 1998 and been a season ticket holder since 2004 (12) and had to pay with my own money every year since my parents hate football so Ive had paperrounds etc to earn my ticket so am as entitled to an opinion as anyone else. I went to west brom in the ridiculous snow and not missed a game for years. I would classify that as support. I will also support our manager even if it is keane because he is ipswichs manager. Just because I think he should leave doesnt mean I hate him or dont respect him I just think he should move on. I think his press conferences are priceless and his honesty is brilliant I simply believe after 18 months the club needs fresh blood. But like I say Ive been an inner and a in the middle before and am happy to be proven wrong. I will always eb thankful to Marcus Evans for saving our beloved club from all its debt but I do believe he is out of touch with the fans.

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dirtydingusmagee added 16:20 - Dec 3 IN, OUT, IN, OUT ,SHAKE SHAKE HIM ALL ABOUT.Why do some people have to get personal and riled about anothers opinion ,nobody on here is a football manager save perhaps a kids Sunday team, but so many put the Team Sheet up then get pissed off when someone is at odds with it.Keane in or out will be decided by M E not as far as i know anyone on here.So chill, just worry about how you will get through expense of Christmas, that IS smething you can influence.I want Keane gone ,but i dont give a sh;t if someone disagrees,whats the point .

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jeera added 17:06 - Dec 3 I would like to see an honest poll from the boys who use the comments section. I would be interested to know how many of those who are calling for RK's head, were doing the same with JM. That's all- nothing sinister about it. I'd just be interested to know how much of this is genuine V how much is impatience.
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farquinell added 17:33 - Dec 3 FOAM coyb! had the board listened to the FORK brigade in the early seventies NO boys of 81 , SOOOOOOOOOOOOO FOAM Keano keano
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bobble added 08:54 - Dec 4 keane out and quickly please he is warping the brains of some of these bloggers into them actually believing he is a good manager its a funny world
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