ROY Keane won the FA Cup four times as a player, but ironically he prefers to dwell on his failures rather than the successes.

Carl Marston

ROY Keane won the FA Cup four times as a player, but ironically he prefers to dwell on his failures rather than the successes.

Weather permitting, Keane will take charge of his first FA Cup game as Ipswich Town boss this afternoon, at fellow Championship side Blackpool. He is hoping for a winning start.

During his playing days, for Nottingham Forest and Manchester United, Keane was involved in seven FA Cup Finals. Three of them were lost, and it is these three that still rankle with him.

"The FA Cup is still important. It's a great competition,” insisted Keane.

"I've had some good times and bad times in the FA Cup as a player, but I tend to remember the disappointments, not the good times. I don't remember them.

“I remember losing to Tottenham (with Nottingham Forest in 1991), and also to Everton (1995) and Arsenal (2005 after a penalty shoot-out) when we really battered them.

“I was involved in seven FA Cup finals, winning four and losing three, but we should have won all seven, or at least six of them.

“We should have beaten Everton and Arsenal, though Tottenham played well that day.

“I don't remember the wins, because a lot of alcohol tended to be consumed, though thinking about we drank more when we lost!” added Keane.

Former midfielder Keane lifted the FA Cup with Manchester United in 1994, 1996, 1999 and 2004, though they are pushed into the background by those trio of defeats.

Hosts Blackpool, who have won the FA Cup once in their history in 1953, in the so-called “Matthews Final”, have protected their Bloomfield Road pitch with covers for the last two nights. They had previously avoided the cost of taking such a measure.

The Seasiders' last two home games were postponed, and they don't want a third to fall victim to the wintry weather. However, today's game could still be in doubt.

Town will have to make do without striker Jon Stead, who starts the first of a four-match suspension.

Defenders David Wright and Damian Delaney are also expected to miss out, due to ankle injuries, while front-runner Stern John has returned to Crystal Palace following the end of his loan spell