STANDING by their man. This is the theme that the Blues will take when they go into tonight's Championship game at Scunthorpe.

Elvin King

STANDING by their man. This is the theme that the Blues will take when they go into tomorrow's Championship game at Scunthorpe.

Manager Roy Keane was serenaded by travelling fans before, during and after Saturday's 1-0 win at Sheffield Wednesday that lifted his side out of the bottom three.

He was backed by goalscorer Carlos Edwards, who reaffirmed that the players are doing all they can to obtain results that keep the boss at Portman Road.

And he was thanked by debut-making goalkeeper Brian Murphy who turned in a superb display that was highlighted with two stunning saves.

“The manager has given me a chance and now I must thank him by proving he has made the right decision,” said Murphy.

But Murphy is well aware of the how fickle the result-dependent world of football is and he added:

“Saturday's display - and win - will soon be forgotten if we don't get a result tomorrow.

“Our supporters were tremendous at Hillsborough and hopefully they enjoyed it. We must give them more of the same at Scunthorpe.”

Edwards' stunning 15th minute goal deserved to win any game, and his first for the Blues moved them out of the drop zone.

And the man who helped Sunderland win the title in 2006/07 under Keane's management re-confirmed the players' allegiance to their boss.

He said: “Yes we all want him to stay.

“We want to do enough to keep him in his job.

“It is a 'you scratch my back I'll scratch your back' situation as we look to him to keep us in the team if we do well.

“When you are where we are in the table there is pressure - on the players, but much more on the manager, and boards can be quick to act if results are not coming.”