Boss Roy Keane says keeper Brian Murphy has probably been the club’s unluckiest player during his time at Portman Road. Murphy is set to make his third league appearance of the season today when the Blues take on his former club Swansea at Portman Road (KO 12.45pm, Sky Sports Two).

Keane said: “He’s been very unlucky, probably the unluckiest player at the club in my time here. When I speak to players when I leave them out or give them disappointments you find out about them.

“It’s how they respond to it and I’ve a lot of time for Murph. He’s a really good goalkeeper with a really good attitude and I don’t remember him ever letting us down when he’s played for us.

“He kept a clean sheet the other night and I thought his distribution of the ball was very good. He’s good with his feet and we’re lucky to have him at the club.”

The Blues boss says summer signing Márton Fülöp’s ankle injury gives the 27-year-old, who joined Town on a free transfer from Bohemians in January, a chance to cement his place in his starting line-up.

Keane feels that not all of his fringe players have made the most of their chances in recent weeks: “Over the last month or two I’ve put one or two players on [as subs] and said to them afterwards that they gave us nothing. The whole idea of being on the bench is that they make some impact for us.

“However, I thought Shane and Carlos did make an impact the other night. If some of them have to play on Tuesday in the reserves [at Playford Road against Luton], then they should go into the game with a positive attitude. If they don’t then they rule themselves out for Preston."

Despite the midweek Carling Cup victory over West Brom, Keane appreciates that he is still under pressure with the Blues having lost their last four league games and says it comes with the territory: “It’s part of the game. If there’s no pressure to perform, you just go through the motions, that’s when I’d be really concerned and that’s the time to get out of the game.”

The Town manager says you need that intensity to succeed in any field: “If you haven’t got passion, you’ve got nothing. And that goes for anything in life. If you haven’t got that you’ve got nothing, you’re a nobody, you don’t exist in my eyes.

“We’ve shown before that when our backs are against the wall we can respond. What we have to do now is do that when we’re not on the back of losing three or four games.

“The top teams perform when they’re winning or drawing or picking up the odd defeat here and there. We seem to go to extremes."

Keane says everybody is becoming fed up with Town's up and down form: “A couple of weeks ago we won two or three, then before that we lost two or three, now we’ve lost four, then we had a good performance against West Brom.

“I think that’s why it’s so frustrating for everyone, supporters, media and myself. We’re all striving for that consistency which in recent years only a few teams have managed. And usually they’re the teams that get promoted.”

The Irishman says his side need to discover that consistency sooner rather than later: “We have to try and find our form or like last year we’re going to leave it far too late. Believe it or not from October on our form wasn’t bad. We still had that bad performance in us, such as at home to Plymouth when we shot ourselves in the foot.

“We have to win football matches and have to climb the table. The beauty for any team in our position where we’ve dropped into the bottom half is that if you go on any sort of half-decent run you’re back in the top half and pushing for the top six.”

Meanwhile, striker Jason Scotland is determined to get back on the scoresheet against his former club Swansea after failing to net in the Blues’ last five Championship matches: “There’s more to come from me!

“I haven’t scored in five games, which in my eyes is a drought. Both Tamás and I need to chip in with some goals, because we’ve been playing up front a lot.

“But I’m happy with my form, and it’s not preying on my mind. I just need to put away a couple of chances.”

Scotland thoroughly enjoyed his two years at the Liberty Stadium, netting 53 goals in 91 starts and 14 sub appearances: “It was the best time of my career. I enjoyed playing there and under manager Roberto Martinez. I fitted into his formula, with one striker and two pacy wingers.

“I don’t know whether I’ll celebrate if I score, simply because I haven’t scored for a few games.”

Photo: Action Images

Keaneish added 09:53 - Dec 4 No, that would be Andros Townsend Keane who you inexplicably have left out for far too many games.
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Mark added 09:56 - Dec 4 I agree Murphy is unlucky. He came here to be first choice, did nothing wrong, got the number 1 shirt, but then suddenly found that Ipswich were spending most of their summer transfer budget on a replacement for him! I think O'Connor is even more unlucky though. Did very well, given a new contract and the number 3 shirt, then frozen out of the team for the entire season before this week despite big injury problems at left-back. Peters is very unlucky, playing well and getting praised then disappearing from the team for weeks. Wickham is unlucky not to have been given more chances, although he didn't always make the most of those it is true.

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devontractorboy added 10:13 - Dec 4 The only unlucky thing for all the players is having Roy Keane as their manager!
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dirtydingusmagee added 10:13 - Dec 4 Murphy has been ''unfortunate'' would be more accurate,i agree with Mark's comments re other players.
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Calmingwind added 10:28 - Dec 4 unlucky? hmmm how? its not bad luck... he just wasnt chosen. its like saying fulop was accidentally signed at the start of the season i like both keepers, but weird comments by RK there.
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bobble added 10:51 - Dec 4 i think the fans of this club are the unluckiest to have a no-hoper for manager last 2 years
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Garv added 11:19 - Dec 4 Does he feel the need to call them football matches every time? We're not playing netball beano, or have you only just realized this?
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hamster153 added 11:37 - Dec 4 COYB
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im_marcacus added 12:40 - Dec 4 1) Murphy's kicking is NOT good. It is worryingly woeful. 2) If you want consistent performances and results, then play a consistent team and tactics. Got to win today, COYB
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camposlocks added 12:47 - Dec 4 o'connor on the bench again today and no civilli. nice one keano...... looks like 4-4-2 though so not all bad?
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imsureazzure added 15:46 - Dec 4 completely at fault for first two goals.
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GiveusaWave added 15:51 - Dec 4 agreed imsureazzure.had a shocker today, really bad. If you only judged him on this game,- you would think he was a Sunday league player.... shame none of us can comment yet on the game. Wonder why it is taking so long for a statement today?
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GiveusaWave added 16:04 - Dec 4 God, can't believe how bad Murphy was today. I have never really rated the guy (thought he was ok) but oh dear.... That performance will give me nightmares tonight... Overall,-thought we played well. Priskin, Scotland, Edwards and Townsend were really good. Defence was poor- but got away with it at times (more through luck than anything else. When your goalkeeper performs like that though,- you have no chance. Lot of longballs- but some passing down the wings tonight also. Priskin and Scotland kept the ball up well. Unfortunately it will be the ref who will be blamed this time. The guy who chopped down Priskin in the first half should have been sent off and a penalty was denied..... Is this the end for Keane? Few managers have ever had this set of league results in a row and survived...

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whippet added 16:16 - Dec 4 My Granny could have tried harder than murphy today. that performance by a goalkeeper was totally unacceptable for a professional player. disgraceful lack of effort. D'urso was a disgrace. but we deserved to lose. we are only as weak as our weakest link- and that was murphy today. was he ok? he looked dazed and confused (almost like he was drunk at times). the simplest of saves (like headers from way outside the box) were fumbled at/ FORK

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whippet added 16:19 - Dec 4 news conference please board.
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BrettenhamBlue added 16:30 - Dec 4 You all have known me as a hardcore ,ardent supporter of Keane from the very beginning. However, I am beginning to seriously waver as I see mistake after misktake being made by a man who I respect greatly and care for. I would like to see Keane succeed and make this club great again, but the lack of judgement on his part beggars belief on occasion. We were unlucky today and played great football in sections, but the manager picks the team and the backline and especially Brian Murphy today were not up to scratch today. Was Murphy unwell perhaps? If that was the case,then another keeper should have been picked in his place. WE were sadly outpassed and tried to outpass them,but the players we have brought in our only used to longball strategy. I am starting to have serious doubts whether we have enough cover in key areas, and whether we have too many loanees who have no longterm care about what happens to this club. I was devastated at this result 2day. It was a good chance for us to climb the table once more.I fear now we are looking behind us into an abyss. I,like many others, would never say keane out, but its time to step down with dignity and pride before we slip into the bottom 3.

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jas0999 added 16:35 - Dec 4 On today's performance, no he's not. Abysmal today.
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Back_The_Boss added 21:21 - Dec 4 I don't think that Murphy was at fault for any of the goals. It's just our young, relatively inexperienced defence that lets us down.
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alfromcol added 21:53 - Dec 4 KIngkeano Murphy should have got to the first goal, however he isn't big enough to command those situations. Fulop has the size to go through his own defenders and attackers to get to the ball. I thing Murphy is a good keeper, but a bit like Richard Wright he lacks a bit of height and doesn't always get to crosses. He has to take some blame for the third goal, although few keepers would have got it. He was caught off his line. You may have heard Craig Beatties comment after the game of the Ipswich keepers lack of height. He spotted him off his line. However, the harm had already been done by then with Durso not awarding the penalty.

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yorksblue added 16:05 - Dec 5 He couldn't catch a cold and never shouts. Quality keeper!!!!!! O'Dea and Colback have to go back asap. Contributing nothing and O'Dea is a total liability. If Smith is an international, so am I. Priskin and Scotland did ok, but Priskin would still be playing now, and not score. Leadbitter was easily our best player. Sadly, he's only shone for the last 2 games. Please Keane, foxtrot oscar NOW!

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PriskinIsAmazing added 20:53 - Dec 5 Im New As a poster on this website and yes... like 99% Of you posters above i think that roy keane should go asap And i think yorksblue is right with odea and colback to go back to there parent clubs now!!!!!!!! we where all so happy to see colback back here earlier but the team doesnt flow without Him!!!! but he has us in his heart! but the potential of our loanies is all held with andros townsend! Wow what a player he is! But still KEANE Out!!!!! COYBs

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colonel added 23:35 - Dec 5 Whilst Murphy was at fault with Swansea's first goal, their attack came about by a wayward risky cross field pass from Leadbitter & then a rash challenge, so at least 3 individual mistakes from 3 players to put them back in the game.Then to rub it in further, promptly followed by a comedy act for the second. We seem incapable of playing simple football. Basic errors are happening at an alarming rate..... same thing happened I recall towards the end of Magilton's reign. Pressure??

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itfc4eva added 15:05 - Dec 9 i thought that keane was the unluckiest person at the club
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