Keane says pride hurt by Ipswich´s dismal run

Ipswich manager Roy Keane admits his pride has been dented by the Championship team’s worst ever start to a season.

Keane’s side are second bottom of English football’s second tier after going nine matches without a win – a dismal run that has left the former Manchester United midfielder at a low ebb.

The latest trauma came at Portman Road on Saturday as Newcastle handed Ipswich a 4-0 thumping that included a devastating spell of three goals in four minutes.

Keane, who took over at Ipswich towards the end of last season, knows he has to repair his players’ shattered confidence in time for Tuesday’s game against Sheffield United as the season threatens to spiral out of control.

“There are no magic wands and confidence comes with results. The longer this run goes on then the harder it will get,” Keane said.

“We have our pride and it has been massively dented. It is hard to take but we have the chance to start to put it right against Sheffield United on Tuesday.

“But if we give goals away like we did today, we will get beat on Tuesday. There is no doubt about that.”

A Kevin Nolan hat-trick and a free-kick from Ryan Taylor condemned Ipswich to defeat and Keane admitted he expected the backlash that came from the fans at full-time.

He said: “The game was dead and buried by half-time. We conceded some unbelievably bad goals and we just have to defend better.

“I don’t know if Nolan has scored a hat-trick before but he won’t get an easier chance to get one. He must have thought it was Christmas.

“I’m not daft, a lot of supporters voiced their opinions at the end but that is fair enough.

“They pay their money and they are entitled to that. But we will keep going.”