IPSWICH Town are staring down the barrel after bottom club Peterborough United deservedly beat them in a topsy-turvy Championship duel at London Road last night.

Carl Marston

IPSWICH Town are staring down the barrel after bottom club Peterborough United deservedly beat them in a topsy-turvy Championship duel at London Road.

And Town will nosedive into the bottom three this evening, if Reading can win at Crystal Palace.

Furthermore, Roy Keane thinks that they will indeed be in the relegation zone by the end of tonight.

The warning bells are certainly sounding, loud and clear, and manager Keane must be a worried man after watching his side blow an early lead.

Daryl Murphy's nine minute opener was wiped out by three second-half goals in a woeful 3-1 defeat. It was only Peterborough's fifth league win of the season.

The bulk of Town's supporters have been fully behind Keane during this difficult campaign. They have remained loyal, despite the many setbacks, but last night's dreadful result will see some doubts creeping in.

Norwich were not too good to go down last season, and Town will have to toughen up, mentally as well as physically, if they too are to avoid suffering the same fate.

Relegation to League One might seem unthinkable, but on this latest performance, it remains a possibility.

Keane rued: "It's very, very disappointing. We lost our way and we didn't look like getting back into it during the second half.

"We needed the second goal, but we never got it.

"We conceded early in the second half, from our kick off, and that gave the impetus back to the home team. After that we still didn't react quick enough.

"The first minute of the second half definitely changed the course of the game.

"We seemed to lose our spark during the final 20 minutes. It was as though we had played over the weekend and not Peterborough.

"The pressure is now on, and there is certainly no hiding place.

"I know we can drop into the bottom three (tonight), and I think we will. I think the other teams around us will get results," added Keane Second-half goals from debutant Liam Dickinson, midfielder Lee Frecklington and defender Craig Morgan wrapped up Peterborough's surprise win.

"The way the fixtures have panned out, with four away games, it's difficult, but to concede three goals is very disappointing.

"And trust me, I can think of stronger words, but you wouldn't be able to print them!

"The players are shell-shocked, and they should be. It's not good players that will get us out of this, its good characters."