IPSWICH Town have nothing to fear, according to manager Roy Keane.

Carl Marston

Ipswich soccer, back page

by Carl Marston

IPSWICH Town have nothing to fear, according to manager Roy Keane.

Town are facing the genuine prospect of dropping into the bottom three, if they fail to win at QPR this evening.

But Keane has faith in his team rising to the challenge. For him, “good characters, rather than good players,” are going to propel Town away from the relegation zone over the next few weeks.

Keane believes that his players' mental toughness, rather than just footballing ability, will be the biggest factor as Town prepare to launch into a demanding schedule of four successive away games.

It all starts tonight, with a trip to inconsistent QPR. And only a win will probably be enough to keep Town away from the drop zone, not least because third-from-bottom Reading also entertain second-from-bottom Plymouth this evening.

“It's a good test for us, but that's what life is all about,” insisted Keane.

“That's why you've got to have faith and trust in the players.

“I'm going to find out a lot over the next few weeks, whether it be about my players, coaching staff, the supporters or myself as a manager.

“We have good players, but what we'll find out over the next couple of weeks won't be about good players; it will be about good characters.

“But I'm looking forward to it, because there's nothing to fear out there. We'll have to see where that takes us.”

Following tonight's trip to Loftus Road, and a blank next weekend, Town are on the road again to Peterborough, Sheffield Wednesday and then Scunthorpe over the course of this month.

Certainly, Keane's men must improve on a dismal away record that has so far yielded just one victory from 13 trips.

“It will be an interesting next few weeks ahead, but we will roll up our sleeves,” continued Keane.

“The last two away performances haven't been great, at Southampton and Preston. Three of the four teams we're playing are down near the bottom, like ourselves, so it's an important period for the players and the club.

“We've thrown away the chance of winning games several times this season, but this is now another opportunity. It's a good test for the players coming up.

“The fans have been brilliant. They've been right behind us and we want to try and get some results for them. It will turn,” added Keane.