IPSWICH TOWN: “More of the same please” is the message today from Blues manager Roy Keane to his players ahead of tomorrow’s home npower Championship game against Leicester City (kick-off 5.20pm).

Six straight league defeats have put Keane under increasing pressure, and if there is no improvement over the hectic Christmas period it will surely signal the end of his Portman Road reign.

Keane acknowledges that results have to improve sooner rather than later, but he says there is a thin defining line between success and failure.

“If we play as we did in our last two home games against West Brom and Swansea we have a chance of beating Leicester tomorrow,” said Keane.

“Basically we did OK in both games, but paid a heavy price for individual errors at both ends of the field – and a turned down sure-fire penalty claim – against Swansea.

“With a bit more quality we can end our current run, which is the worst I have suffered since I started playing football aged eight.”

Significantly, club owner Marcus Evans did not mention Keane’s name once in a statement he released this week re-affirming his continuing desire to take Ipswich into the Premier League.

And he has left until the New Year – January 3 against Nottingham Forest – before using the matchday programme to deliver a personal message to worried supporters.

Cynics will suggest that neither move bodes well for Keane’s long term Town future with Keane admitting: “Yes, I’ve always been lucky – luckier than most.

“But patience has to run out some time. There comes a point when you keep losing games that something has to give.

“If we do not do well tomorrow it is up to the owner what he does. I can only go out and try to win a football match as I always do.

“But even that doesn’t guarantee your position.”