IPSWICH TOWN: ‘He‘s the right man for the job‘ is experienced Blues defender Mark Kennedy‘s assessment of currently under fire manager Roy Keane.

In the cut throat world of professional football where results are everything the fact that Keane led Town to three consecutive victories prior to successive home defeats to Derby County and Barnsley means zilch.

What cannot be erased was the nature of Saturday’s setback - with Ipswich admittedly weakened but way off the pace against ordinary opposition.

It was without exaggeration a dreadful display.

And Kennedy, who has worked under a host of managers, admits it.

But he says that Keane is not to blame.

“It’s a conversational non starter,“ he said. “I’ve worked with a lot of managers and Roy Keane is impressive in every way.

“I’m honest enough to push a manager in the right direction if he needs it or give one credit sometimes, but with regards to our manager here this is a non-starter.

“He doesn’t need me to stand up for him.

“Along with his staff he works his socks off and they can do all the coaching they want but once you cross the white line it is the players’ responsibility and we keep letting him down.”

Town were two goals down at the interval before going on to lose 3-1 with Kennedy, who captained the side, adding:

“We had a fantastic team talk at the interval. It was constructive and all positive.

“We came out with great belief to get back into the match and our supporters were right behind us.

“But then we gave away another poor goal, and it must make the manager very angry.

“But what more can he do? He‘s doing all the right things.

“As players we have to take a long hard look at ourselves if we are to achieve anything this season.”

And talking about the fans’ reaction to the below par display performance, Kennedy went on:

“They were fantastic even when we were two goals down after the interval, and I’ve been at clubs where if you are only two goals ahead you get battered.

“Players have to learn to handle that and our fans here are very good.”