IPSWICH TOWN: Blues boss Roy Keane has slammed managers who use referees as an excuse for their side’s bad performances.

IPSWICH TOWN: Blues boss Roy Keane has slammed managers who use referees as an excuse for their side’s bad performances.

And poacher turned gamekeeper Keane says that his days of haranguing match officials are over.

Phil Crossley from Kent takes charge of tonight’s npower Championship game at the Madejski Stadium between Reading and Town and is set to get an easy ride from Keane, who once chased Andy D’Urso all around Old Trafford during his playing days.

“I was wrong,” admitted Keane. “I’ve met Andy since and he’s taken charge of our games, and what I did in my playing days was not right.

“I did enough moaning as a player, but I see things differently now as manager.

“Along with my staff we aim to give the referee every respect.

“Of course there are times when you have a go, but the man in the middle has the hardest job in football.

“To say that the manager or his players have a difficult job is perhaps fair enough. But the man with the most difficult job is the referee.”

And Keane says that he should get more help.

“There is a Respect campaign involving players; perhaps there should be one for managers,” added Keane.

“I get fed up with the same Premier League managers blaming referees week after week.

“They should look at the weaknesses in their own team.

“In the Premier League where the stakes are so high managers are telling players to go down when they get a touch in the box. I would never tell my players to try and con an official.”

Keane expects a tough game tonight, adding: “Reading are more than capable of being one of the 12 sides good enough to compete for a play-off place.

“Not many teams are near the top with four recent youth players in their squad and I’m very pleased with all my players.

“Jake Livermore will play games for us – he has only been here a week of his loan from Tottenham. I’m delighted with him in training. He deals with the ball and is a good player.”