IPSWICH TOWN: Roy Keane today gave his reasons for the superb start his team has made to the season.

The Blues go into tomorrow’s npower Championship match against winless Bristol City at Portman Road (kick-off 3pm) looking to extend their unbeaten start to the season to six games.

Keane says that he has now rid the club of those who felt it was a chore to pull on a Town shirt.

And that his players are now more aware of his demands.

A combination of these two factors has seen results improve with Keane saying:

“There were one or two players who I was not comfortable with over their attitude to training last season.

“They knew that, and that given half a chance I would get shot of them. And that they were unlikely to play.

“Some went around thinking that the world was against them.

“They were moaning all the while and could not even be at training for 9.45am.

“When not in the team I expect my players to feel it and of course they shouldn’t be happy with that.

“But they should still set an example and train properly.

“Every day every player has a chance to stake his place in my squad for the next game.”

Keane exonerated the departed Owen Garvan, Jon Stead and Jon Walters from criticism, but speaking of the players he currently has under his control after a major clear-out, Keane added:

“Nobody feels it’s a chore to play for Ipswich Town any more.

“They are learning a bit more about how I work and what I see as acceptable and not acceptable.

“I make certain demands, but I’ve never asked a player to do anything I did not think they are capable of.”

And Keane stressed another benefit of his current set up with Ipswich poised to go top of the table tomorrow if results go their way.

“All my players realise that they now have a realistic chance of playing in the first team.

“Consequently there is a good energy around the club

“If they perform well during the week they have a decent chance of playing on Saturday.

“There were one or two instances last season of players missing games with back strains and mystery viruses.

“Are those players still at the club? You will have to guess on that one?

“But everybody now is having a right go and there is not the negativity that there was.”