Roy Keane said Town had no one to blame but themselves after their 3-1 home defeat to Swansea. Keane refused to criticise referee Andy D’Urso despite the Billericay-based official turning down what appeared to be a certain Town penalty.

The Blues manager, whose side have now lost five in a row in the league, said: “No excuses, we have no one to blame but ourselves, not just the defending but the chances we missed and not dealing with the setback of the first goal.

“Obviously the first two goals were hard to take, but there are no excuses. We’ve got to do better, simple as that.”

Keane’s team looked to be on their way to a win when Andros Townsend put them in front but he says his side couldn’t secure the result: “When you’re comfortable, that’s when you get into trouble. That brings a different type of pressure — trying to kill the game off. When we didn’t get the second goal we were constantly under pressure trying to keep a clean sheet.

“The first goal was a soft one, but even then you’ve got to steady the ship and keep your head and we didn’t do that. The second goal was comical, I suppose, but I’m pretty sure I had the same conversation with you last week.

“It’s a bit like Groundhog Day — doing the same thing over and over again. You’ve all seen that movie, it’s quite good I know, but we’re doing the same thing over and over again and I keep coming up here saying the same stuff. You’ve got to draw the line somewhere on it.”

Despite having what looked to be a solid claim for a penalty turned down by Andy D’Urso, Keane kept to his usual policy of not criticising referees: “The official didn’t cost us the result today. Let’s not try and find another excuse for us losing the match. It would be too easy but it would be wrong.

“Remember, we were 2-1 down at the time. Who’s to say we would have scored the penalty? We’re pretty sure it was a penalty, but who’s to say we would have scored it?”

The Irishman accepts that five league defeats in a row simply isn’t good enough: “It’s unacceptable and we’d had two or three before that, then we had a couple of wins in between. But it’s eight defeats in 10, which is unacceptable.”

Keane confirmed that David Norris missed out because he has a virus, while Damien Delaney was fit to be called upon if needed. Darren O’Dea picked up a hamstring injury and is a doubt for next week’s trip to Preston. The on-loan Celtic man was already set to go home to Glasgow early in the week with his girlfriend still to give birth to their first baby.

Swansea boss Brendan Rodgers was delighted with the win: “It was very, very pleasing. I heard the players talking and they said that maybe a season or two ago we would have lost the game.

“It shows the mentality in the group at the moment that we’ve got the belief to keep going. We’ve shown a number of times that we want to control and dominate games with the ball and our ability to keep going has served us very well. It’s a fantastic result for us at a place where it’s always difficult to come and get a result.”

Rodgers says he feels for his friend Roy Keane with several of his senior squad members missing at present: “I look at the team that he’s got and he’s missing his experienced players and this is a league in which you need these players.

“Look at Norris missing today, Delaney, Gareth McAuley out for a while. These are stalwarts of the group. I don’t think there’s any better man to be here in a fight to pull the team out of it.”

Rodgers was not unsympathetic to Town’s claims for a penalty: “I don’t think it was a turning point in the game but if you judge it on the situation, if you’re the home manager you are disappointed if you don’t get it.

“Having then seen it afterwards on the replay I can see why Andy D’Urso doesn’t give it. There was a slight touch, he’s maybe thinking that the guy can go through and get his shot off and finish. Mark Gower’s just coming across, there’s no doubt that there’s contact.”

Photo: Action Images

BrettenhamBlue added 16:43 - Dec 4 REPOST 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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wcoote added 16:43 - Dec 4 Feel for him but think this is his last game.
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Karlosius added 16:47 - Dec 4 Lose to Preston and he could easily walk. Things look extremely dire. Attendance is ridiculous. Defence is even worse. I could go on, but I won't...
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hogster1970 added 16:47 - Dec 4 hmmmm mr keane please tell me why peteres didnt start at right back, especially after wed performance, i still prefer o conner at left back , these descicions can and does make all the difference from the start, thought going forward we looked ok but at times we seem to take the extra second to make that pass or cross. we still to tight in midfield they had there wingers and full backs running the line weres ours are to deep in the pitch and end up just chasing shadows. but still think keane has to go, after 18 months and excpet wed game we are still pretty pee poor, ans most down to his tactics and decisions and lack of motivatiing the team, think we are a worse team now than last year atleast were backing some draws, we cant even do that at the moment.

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Drew added 16:51 - Dec 4 The question is, why hasn't Keane been playing Townsend more often? He was by far our best player today, no Civelli on the bench, same with R. Murray, Fallon was poor when he came on. Priskin may have missed a few good chances but he was a very big threat up front for us, defence was piss poor once again. Sorry Keane, bu you're out of time.
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sirbenofmorlingshire added 16:56 - Dec 4 Re: the Headline... ' no one to blame but ourselves'. Is that not the same headline posted on here every week??? Absolute disaster in my opinion and I also blame ME for this mess of a football club. Money or not, p**s poor decisions and appointments from the top, we're just an investment not a business. Gutted to be a Town fan for too long now, I just hope there is someone out there who can bring some joy back to the club. Keane to go ASAP is my vote.

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MGNottsBlue added 17:02 - Dec 4 Embarassing to watch at times as Swansea passed it around us for fun, ok we got into the game just befoe halftime but never really looked confident enough to take a chance, then after halftime we create a good goal but then fall apart with yet another couple of appalingly defended goals. Ok we should have had a penalty and their 3rd was just a hell of a good hit but overall we were very very poor and totally lacking in confidence and I for one cannot see a positive outcome unless something changes at the club and soon and the most obvious thing to change is the management.

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bigfish added 17:02 - Dec 4 I did not go watched it on sky in the warm - best result
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hellotosh1967 added 17:02 - Dec 4 i think mr keane has run out of ideas why no jamie peters he had a cracking game on wednesda and i though zuiverloon was extremely poor i thought are best defender was troy brown we really need to address this situation quick as on current form we are league 1 material and i think personally we are a far better side than that with the right guidance approach and managerand a rally good shale up we could once again get back to the good old days great atmospheres and great crowds

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Mark added 17:03 - Dec 4 Don't blame the players, blame the man who assembled the team (or rather, hasn't assembled a team). Keane makes signing after signing, but the fact is they are no better than the squad he inherited from Magilton. It is a mistake to bring in and play so many loan players, and it is a mistake to keep making unneccesary changes. Take Jamie Peters - an outstanding performance on Tuesday and the result was he was DROPPED for a short term loan player. It is the AGM on Tuesday and surely Clegg won't want to face the shareholders still trying to argue that Keane is the man to take this club forwards. Keane's contract is up anyway in June and will surely not be renewed, so let's bite the bullet and replace him now before things get any worse. KEANE OUT!

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foster added 17:06 - Dec 4 get someone else in.send fallon back.bring back d wright.play townsend every week. and smith was arwfull today
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MAVERICK added 17:07 - Dec 4 Balls
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cracko82 added 17:08 - Dec 4 Don't understand Delaney's adbsence from the squad! There was some experience we could have done with. Understand Brown & Tommy played well midweek but surely Delaney should have come back in - at least the bench! Yes Tommy was at fault for the 2nd but generally he has had a good season and he is only 20. My views for what they are worth - Thought Murphy didn't do enough for their first goal. Glad Andros is back, have been crying out for him and his positivity in attack & he's justifying it. Their keeper made a couple of great saves (Scotland effort & Brown header), Priskin should have done better with his free header. Again surprised at Peters absence from the starting 11? First 30 mins was painful watching them pass us to death but had a good spell in the second half & some decent chances in the first. Looked so nervous at the back everytime we had the ball & they put pressure on! Personally I think we deserved a point with the chances we had (excluding Andy 'I shouldn't even ref in the BlueSquare' D'Urso & the invisible penalty) - even though Swans dominated possession. Other than their goals I can't remember Murphy having to make a save! 'You've got to draw the line somewhere on it' - Is that a clue from Mr Keane as to his future?

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howsey51 added 17:08 - Dec 4 Quite right, D'urso's refereeing would have been more at home in the circus but smith's painfully bad defending cost us as well. I cannot beleive we didn't learn the lessons from norwich, yes he's young but a schoolboy would know to put his boot through the ball in that position. I feel for keane that he's missing so many players and the ones he puts out are letting him down at key times. I don't think a change of manager is the answer, things will turn round, but it's hard at the moment.

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alex2180 added 17:12 - Dec 4 FORK, bwahahahaaha
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ymraeulb added 17:14 - Dec 4 Town need some stability on the pitch but having a good game counts for nothing with Keane. I think it's time for a change at the top. This will give a new manager time to look at the current squad and with the jan transfer window open make the necessary changes to try and arrest the slide to league 1.
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titanicclown added 17:14 - Dec 4 While I think we were unlucky today and I have a certain amount of sympathy for Keane today was a real sign of where the club is at. 1)Totally out passed for the first half by a team that must have cost £5-7 mill less than ours. 2)More defensive errors - a decent manager would have known that if Macaulay got injured we would be in the do do. Should have got experienced centre half on loan instead of Livermore/Fallon. 3)Taking Priskin and Townsend off was just plain stupid. I'm sorry but Roy Keane combines bad luck and total incompetence. Hardly a recipe for success. We need a proper football manager who plays the Ipswich way asap. O'Driscoll please.

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Calmingwind added 17:16 - Dec 4 you can see how much towsend wants to play, best player on pitch for us today and there was so much delight from him when he scored. i think mark raises a good point - why was peters dropped for a loan player that was brought in as cover? well i suppose hes a true right back, but peters had outstanding game tuesday and has had many this season in the position. o'dea for me has to be either on the bench next game for me or not in the squad at all, i know hes been waiting on the arrival of his first baby but if his head is not on it he shouldnt play and hes been shocking last few games - o'conner to start. only thing i dont like about peters and o'conner playing together is the lack of height our back four would have. but i think the pro's we could get from them outweigh that. oh and the penalty we didnt get was much more a foul than the delainy sending off...

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tractorboyholmes added 17:17 - Dec 4 I have to say I feel REALLY sorry for Roy Keane. I thought his starting eleven was spot on - with the exception of starting O'Dea over O'Connor. His tactics and subs made were also good. The Swans are a very good footballing team and we had to respect that. They had the fair share of the possession but they never hurt us and we looked more dangerous when we attacked. We all know what happened after 85 mins so I won't dwell on that however I want to talk about the major individual mistakes our lads are making. Last two league games we've been making ridiculous match changing balls ups which have cost us points. O'Dea, Delaney, Murphy (for flapping like a big girls blouse at that first goal without having his feet even leave the ground!) and Smithy (being silly enough to think he had time for a second touch in such a crowded six yard box & not putting it straight out into Britannia stand) have all cost us. Granted the younger players like Smithy are inexperienced and will hopefully learn from mistakes like these, and in time hopefully they'll become better players for it, but some of the foul ups are so stupid you wouldn't even see them at Sunday league football. I really feel for Keano as he's powerless against these individual errors and it sets the whole team back & we're left chasing games. Once the players cross that line its down to them. Today was a bitter pill to swollow as from the start of the second half I could only see one winner & if we could have made it 2-0 (Priskin really should have put that header away) then we'd have walked all over them - not bad considering they're 3rd in the league! I really don't feel things are as bad as what they appear on paper considering the troubles we've had. As far as Keane's performance today I felt he showed massive improvements and he'll no doubt see himself what a difference playing two out and out widemen made. I do feel that if Keano keeps putting sides out similar to today's team we'll win FAR more than we'll lose - providing they're not being ref'd by D'Urso! No blame from today can be put on his shoulders though & i hope fans are sensible enough to realise this. The poor guy's luck has to change soon! Man of the match = Townsend (by a country mile!!) Keep the faith - Keano's gunna come good I just know it (and no i've not been saying that all season - quite to the contray in fact!)

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Bobby_Petta added 17:17 - Dec 4 Do feel sorry for Keane, he looks a beaten man, think he knows his time is up. 18 months in Charge and we are a lot worse off, we have gone backwards. He has the most money any Manager has had at Ipswich but the team is poor, to many Loan players says it all, Think he let to many players go and hasn't replaced them, Stead has got to be better Rory Fallon? Miss Owen Garven, we have no play maker, to many of the same type of players. Next week is a must win.

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lunatic38 added 17:19 - Dec 4 Our shape and player selection today as against West Brom (exception of odea at left back and brought on oconnor in 2nd half????)looked better (so what has happened in the previous five games?) and we can start to see a first 11 emerging (4-4-2)as there have not been too many unlogical tinkerings by the bimbo in last 2 games and it seems to me that now the noose is tightening around the bimbos neck he has lost his tinkering touch and gone with football know how regarding formation and selection which is what he should have been doing 12 months ago(6 months into his tenure at PR) BUT what i see today was a right back who for me is very poor (what happened to D.Wright, i did not like rosenior too) centre backs (ok injury to Delaney and McCauley granted) who look like a pair of headless chicken at times, but the biggest problem for me is our centre midfield! We have not got a sitting defensive midfielder playing yet again and this is causing problems right around the pitch! Leadbitter needs the hatchet man next to him so he can start to put his style and name on the game (i am a great believer in winning the middle wins you the game!) Roy is a midfielder and knows this, and while he keeps playing 2 attacking loose midfielders in the middle we are not going to be able to stamp our mark on the game and we will struggle, we will score goals through the skill of other positions but eventually we will be beaten (how many 20 yarders been scored from outside the box against us this season) i seem to remember a chap called Luke Hyam, where the hell has he gone? he started this season playing and we looked a lot better before the bimbo started tinkering yet again. Sumary, We have got severe problems in one place and one place only Management!! i can seriously put my hand on my heart and say this BIMBO has not got a clue, Swansea for me were ok today but 2 years ago we would have beat them!!! yes the referee did not help but what happened the previous 6 games and as flattering as it is being in a semi final , if we do not do something here soon, we will be out of the Cup and in serious relegation trouble!! If the BIMBO cant manage a team how will he know when the time is right to leave? The rate he is building his squad we will be in the ryman before he is happy with a balanced squad. Please do not use escuses now Ref ,Goalkeepers etc etc because i for one know where the problem lies. He needs to go NOW not after Preston not at Xmas BUT NOW and the other A......e needs to F......f with him!!!!!!!!

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stiffshorts added 17:19 - Dec 4 at least some of us fans have been consistent and were telling all the "beer goggle" wearers at the start of the season (after we won a few games and idiots were stating we're going up, honestly!!) that this side, with these players, were NOT good enough for this league let alone promotion. It was obvious from the start of the season, these players have no; anticipation ball control skill Don't provide enough options for the throughball, don't work hard enough..... I could go on & on. This hasn't just happened, it's been screamingly obvious since the first game of the season. No this club's being ruined. The fanbase is withering, it's nearly at an all time low. The owner doesn't give a sh$t. He brings in Clegg who has contibuted nothing but fleecing fans on ticket prices for lowly cup games. The roof leaks on the bobbby robson.......... we're falling apart. I'm on the verge of giving up, like my team................

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tractorintheloft added 17:20 - Dec 4 Shocking decisions today. First the officials missed the most blatant pen you'll see for a while and Mr Keane's tactical nouse. Playing one up front with Scotland withdrawn allowed Swansea to build from the back and dominate the game and keep us under pressure. Priskin again looked dangerous but was taken off and then our most creative player replaced by Peters who has been playing RB suddenly finds himself on the Left Wing. We persisted with the withdrawn striker even when chasing the game. Fallon looked every bit what I thought he would - a good honest hard working cart horse. Taxi for Keane PLEASE before we are dragged into trouble big time. FORK

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jas0999 added 17:25 - Dec 4 Clearly the referee was very poor, but the whole set up of the club needs to be looked at. It's very easy to blame Roy and indeed the buck stops with him. 8 defeats from 10 is unacceptable and at any other club the manager would be sacked (I don't like to see anyone lose their job though). It does make me laugh that virtually everyone on TWTD called for Roy to sign a right-back and when he does, they call for him to play a midfielder at right-back!! Still, the decision to take off Priskin today was a poor one. However, are the players void of any blame? Personally, I thought Roy picked a decent looking team today. We were doing okay, went one up and folded like a pak of cards. You simply can't blame only Roy for that. I thought Fallon, Colback, Scotland, Murphy and O'Dea were dreadful.The players need to take a look at themselves. Then we have Mr. Evans and Mr. Clegg. It is partly these guys fault that we are relying on loan players. Roy clearly stated he wanted permanent players and they didn't do the deals. The problem is they are NOT football men. We don't even know what ME's looks like - is this the way to run a club? In any event, the manager takes the ultimate blame, but I can't see ME sacking him.

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sirbenofmorlingshire added 17:32 - Dec 4 This message board is going to quickly fill up with Keane out (which I whole heartedly agree with and support 100%), However, I'd like to chuck ME leaving the club into the mix too... Yeah bring on the 'we'll go bust', 'the club will go under if he goes' etc etc... but frankly I question this mystery man's involvment with ITFC. If he bought the club to make money,then he's cocked up with appointing this cartoon of a manager coz it ain't working or improving, if he's bought it as some sort of tax dodge, then bugger off we ain't interested in being his fall guy, and if he genuinly cared about whats going on and if he wanted the club to improve and be a success, then just where the bloody hell is he!!! Mr Evan's, football is one step away from showbiz these days, public interest is phenominal, that being the case it's not the most sensible option for a guy who hides under a rock counting his money not showing his face or involvment and I'd suggest it's not what we need at ITFC. Keane to go, he's a poor manager, not many are going to argue with that, he's had time and money and we're going nowhere fast with him. However I'd love to know just what the owners are playing at and what they want from ITFC because to me it don't stack up... There is something very rotten in the state of East Anglia and I do wonder even if Keane went, have we got the support, commitment and involvment (and I'm not talking all about money here) from the owners? Sad times at Town right now.

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