IPSWICH Town keeper Brian Murphy admits that the Blues are in a Championship fight to avoid relegation.

And he says there is nothing wrong with the manager’s tactics.

Saturday‘s 1-0 defeat at Preston was the ninth defeat in 11 games; the sixth on the trot and dropped Town to within three points of the bottom three.

“If we keep going like this it will be a relegation issue,” said Murphy.

“The gaffer reminded us in the dressing room after the game that we are not too good to go down.

“We went to Deepdale for a win, although a draw would have been progress.

“I think we did enough to a deserve draw and we had enough chances to have won.

“We‘re not playing awful football, but we’re not taking our chances.

“I’m not blaming individuals, but as a group we’re not taking that extra step to make sure we win games - we‘re not always able to keep clean sheets.”

And looking at manager Roy Keane’s position Murphy, who was signed from Irish club Bohemians 12 months ago, has sympathy for his current plight.

Murphy said: “I believe the manager is doing his job right and along with his talented staff working hard to make sure everything is right.

“It is down to the 14 who go on to the pitch and at the moment it is not good enough.

“As a group we deserve to be criticised.

“The manager is getting more stick, but I could not see anything wrong with his tactics on Saturday.

“Perhaps things are too good for us - training - being well looked after.

“The way thing going at the minute it’s hard to keep clean sheet.

“Their guy finished the Preston goal well, but there was a lot leading up to his shot that could have been done differently.

“We must go out and do it for each other, and there is plenty of effort every week.

“But we are not winning - not even drawing.

“So I‘m unsure at this stage whether we’re putting everything on the line.

“As a group we all want to win - just one win and then see where that takes us.“