Boss Roy Keane conceded that the longer the Blues’ poor run of form continues, the harder it gets to turn it around. Saturday’s loss at Preston was the sixth successive league defeat and their ninth in 11 games.

Keane said: “The longer the run goes on the harder it is to turn around. That’s nine defeats in 11 and at any level in any league, in any country that is not good enough.”

The Town manager says his pride has been hurt by the current situation: “Unbelievably so. You wouldn’t believe how much it’s hurting, but you could try and guess. I’m a proud man and I don’t like getting beaten.”

Keane said he still felt he was capable of turning things around, but when asked how a manager retained their resilience in such circumstances added: “Good question that, sometimes you don’t.”

The Blues boss also hinted that he might again be having thoughts about an assistant manager when asked whether he had a mentor: “No, I should get one.”

Despite his side having had the better of the first half, Keane took only scant positives from the game: “I thought Rory Fallon did well. We certainly didn’t want keep Rory on the pitch for 90 minutes but I thought he was decent in both boxes, whether he was defending or attacking.

“Mark Kennedy got 60-odd minutes. We took a chance on Sparky and his hamstring, but it’s nothing to get carried away with, getting players back on the pitch for an hour or so.”

The Blues boss felt Preston’s centre-halves — former Blue Wayne Brown and Leon Cort — were had a significant effect on the game: “I thought their two centre-halves were outstanding. They know the league, know the game, know when to put their foot through it, attacked it well in both boxes. Their two centre-halves were a big difference in the performances.

“I’m not knocking my centre-halves, I thought they did OK, but they’re young boys and, I know everyone’s bored of me saying it, it’s about being streetwise. The boy Parkin was streetwise at the end of the game.

“When you consider all the late goals we gave away last year, it shows up in important parts of the game.

“Even when we went a goal down we went a bit gung-ho and were ball-watching and they could have nicked a second goal.”

Keane says the club has not yet discussed what sort of money might be available for additions to his squad in January: “I’ve not really had those discussions with the owner or the chief executive.

“The priority was not to get beat at Preston and we try and win every game. We’re getting dragged into it and we were down there all last year, so it’s been an ongoing problem.

“It’s not necessarily about having good players at the moment, it’s about having good characters, and there won’t be that many good characters available in January, even if there’s money available and they want to come to Ipswich. Those are massive question marks. Don’t think there’s a quick fix out there for us.”

With the Blues now down to 18th, Keane concedes that his side are now very much in the relegation battle: “We are at the moment, of course.”

The 39-year-old says there’s no excuse for the Blues getting into the current position after their good start to the season: “That’s nine defeats in 11. I’ve been involved in football since I was eight or nine years of age, whether it be at amateur level, I played semi-professional, played with top players at Forest and United and Celtic, good players at Sunderland.

“The run we’re on is not acceptable, let’s not kid ourselves. Forget about giving time or mentors or getting players who are streetwise, getting injured players back. That is a poor run in anyone’s book.”

Meanwhile, midfielder Grant Leadbitter says the players are backing their boss: “Of course we still have the faith in him, every single player in that dressing room wants him to stay and everyone’s behind him.

“We want him to stay and the players have got to do better because it’s us losing the games, not the manager. We’ve got a couple of big games coming up and we want to bounce back next week. It’s a big disappointment.”

Photo: Action Images

Back_The_Boss added 13:48 - Dec 13 Keane simply has to go. He has been given the funds, time and support of the fans and he has failed to deliver. Goodbye Mr.Keane
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Blueulster added 14:00 - Dec 13 Don't think I can take much more of these performances/results. Every Monday I get asked how is Keane still in the job and My answer is that I have no idea. I wouldn't trust him with a transfer kitty in January, so I it time for him to go. How many games is it going to take for Scotland to get some sharpness, he has played about 20!
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Counagofactor added 14:17 - Dec 13 Roy Keane has to go now, sorry to say ive been a huge admirer of his honesty and his effort. But it clearly hasn't worked, its hist team and at the end if the day the person that has to take responsibility is the manager. Poyet & Tarrico, would be ideal Mr Evans ???
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itfchorry added 14:30 - Dec 13 Keane Out FORK
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julesbda added 14:35 - Dec 13 Good news ...when i went on holiday last year we won our first match !! i'm heading this year to australia to watch the ashes ( figured i needed to watch someone win a game !! :) ) ..i leave thursday !! so something is sure to happen this week !! Feel the force ....and bye bye RK !!
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alfromcol added 14:55 - Dec 13 Keane explains why Delaney wasn't picked. See BBC website at http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/i/ipswich_town/9281383.stm "Damien's just missed out. Troy and Tommy, we've persevered with them over the last couple of games," the Town manager told BBC Radio Suffolk. "Damien, like every other player at the club, has got to fight for his place. "Damien will train with us this week and he might get back involved."

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naa added 15:04 - Dec 13 alfromcol: How is that an explanation? As usual it's classic Keane hypocrisy. Complains about lack of experience, then plays two youngsters in central defence, dropping his only fit experienced centre back to do so. It can't just be about Delaney being unlucky and missing out, surely. Not like Smith had a great game against Swansea is it?
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bluelady added 15:07 - Dec 13 NAA agree as Delaney didnt even get on the bench......... seems he has done something wrong? Maybe it was his turn to back the manager last week and he said no? Cant say i have seen Prisken running forward to support his manager?!!
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Ipswich24 added 15:21 - Dec 13 Where is any announcement from clegg or Evans still finding it amusing are we clegg cause I aint!!!!
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alfromcol added 15:23 - Dec 13 naa I wasn't suggesting it was an explanation, simply pointing everyone to the information. It would be more understandable if Delaney was on the bench, but not left out of the squad. This looks more like a punishment. Again another strange decision by RK. No logic whatsoever. You can't win your place back if you aren't in the squad. WE have seen it so many times since his arrival 18 Months ago. Players completely disappear out of the squad for no good reason and then (sometimes) reappear weeks later.

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alfromcol added 15:26 - Dec 13 Bluelady, nor any running forward by Peters, Townsend or O'Connor who have all been the subject of the RK 'pick names out of hat' selection policy.
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BlooooCD added 15:34 - Dec 13 Anyone fancy getting filthy rich????? I'm thinking of setting up a franchise. In the form of a stall next to the badge seller on the corner of Sir Alf Ramsey way... Selling Prozac for all the depressed supporters of our beloved club! I for one have never felt so low whilst following this great club! Normally a supporter would throw an SOS to their Chief Exec but he is an ass! Or the owner - But we don't know who he is! Could things get any worse?!?! No announcement so more crap to look forward to... Can't begin to imagine how quiet the club shop is right now.... Who the fcuk would want club gear at the moment - I'm thinking of taking a rifle and shooting my gnomes! ha ha! FORK! COYB's!

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Blue_Jack added 15:36 - Dec 13 This isnt a " bad run" - its an embarassment .... better we had lost to west brom as that startling "victory" served only to get keanes head out of the noose for a week or two Truth; any other club in the history of the game would have long ago sacked a manager responsible for such tragic results, had he not already done the decent thing & resigned
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whoppit added 15:42 - Dec 13 As long as Marcus likes his "publicity poster boy", Keane will be safe regardless of results. And we will all be here this time next week after the next loss against Leicester !!! But I told you all that this would happen a year ago but most of you all had your big name rose tinted glasses on !!!!
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bluelady added 15:44 - Dec 13 alfro - yes exactly. Which also backs up my note about Murphy sayings the players fault we are not winning........ Peters, Towsend, Prisken, Delaney, O Connor im sure would all disagree, all are players who have shown flare and commitment (ok maybe not delaney and flare!)
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itfchorry added 15:54 - Dec 13 Enough is Enough ! Time to call for his dismissal this Saturday - win lose or draw Keane Out
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fourth added 16:14 - Dec 13 Wouldn't O'Neill be just perfect?
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blueherts added 16:25 - Dec 13 Why would O ' Neill come to us - Let us not kid ourselves - We have to be realistic
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TotalBlue added 16:55 - Dec 13 Why wouldn't O'Neil want to come. I honestly believe we are a great option for an out of work manager. The club is willing to give plenty of time to managers we are a historic club and wouldnt you like to be the one over a period of time to bring back the glory days to such a sleeping giant.... COYB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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julesbda added 16:56 - Dec 13 Sam alladyce is now Free !!! bring on big Sam !!
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alfromcol added 17:00 - Dec 13 Sam Allardyce has left Blackburn with immediate effect, rumour is 'spotted in his car coming past Cambridge on his way to Portman Rd
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These_arent_the_days added 17:25 - Dec 13 Better put up a road-block on the A14 then
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PeekFreans added 17:25 - Dec 13 No s h i t Sherlock!
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jas0999 added 17:33 - Dec 13 Would very much like to hear from Marcus Evans - are so called owner - regarding the current situation. Even if it;s through Clegg. Bored of hearing from the players 'blame us not the manager'and the excuses from all the playing staff. Let's hear what the owner has to say.
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BlooooCD added 17:36 - Dec 13 Sam Allardyce sacked by new owners!!! Why? Because the clubs owners have ambition and think a new manager will get them where they want to be... No other club woudl allow this farce to continue - Why are we?!?!?! Imagine having that at our club! We can only wish eah!
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