Roy Keane dedicated tonight's Carling Cup quarter-final victory over West Brom to Ipswich's fans.
Roy Keane dedicated tonight's Carling Cup quarter-final victory over West Brom to Ipswich's fans.
The former Manchester United midfielder has endured a difficult relationship with Town supporters following a dire run of form which saw them slip to 16th in the npower Championship following Sunday's 4-1 defeat to East Anglia rivals Norwich.
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However, Keane's battling team - hit by injuries and unavailable loan players - secured their semi-final place against Barclays Premier League title challengers Arsenal in January through a second-half penalty from Grant Leadbitter.
Only some 11,300 turned out on a freezing night in Suffolk, and Keane - who had accepted in his programme notes "there is no hiding place for a manager" - was glad to send them all away with a warm glow.
"I am more pleased for other people, it is all about the players and the supporters," Keane said.
"It is not about my feelings because a manager's career will be up or down - we have let the supporters down and (tonight) we have given them something to shout about.
"Let's talk about the 11 or 12,000 that came here. Hopefully a few more will come back for the semi-final.
"Since I have been in the job we have had moments when we have thought we were going to kick on, but we won't until we get some of our players back."
Keane continued: "It was important we put on a performance.
"We know the quality West Brom have got and we wanted to make it a high-tempo game.
"I was pleased with the work-rate, the character and the composure of some of the younger boys.
"To get out of the hole we are in at the moment is about characters, about digging deep and we saw that."
On the prospect of facing Arsenal, whom he enjoyed many great battles against as a player at United, Keane reflected: "In terms of the draw it is the hardest we could have got, but it will be great for the players.
"They are getting educated and they are learning their trade and the only place they will get that is on the grass."
Keane, though, stressed: "We need to get back up the Championship table because that is our bread and butter.
"Getting to semi-final is a bonus, but that is all it is, a bonus - we have to win league matches."
West Brom made nine changes for the trip to a freezing Suffolk, with youngster James Hurst, 18, making his debut at right-back, as defender Marek Cech and midfielder Graham Dorrans were the only survivors from the 4-1 Premier League win at Everton.
West Brom assistant manager Eddie Newton defended the squad selection, but accepted too many players "did not turn up".
He said: "We have been doing that since the beginning of the competition, and kept faith in those players, so there are no regrets in the changes.
"But you don't need to be an expert to know it was a poor performance, individually and collectively, from the start to the end.
"We did not show enough desire and paid the price.
"However, James Hurst was fantastic on his debut in a side which did not perform well.
"We just cannot carry that amount of poor performances. Some games you just cannot put your finger on it, too many players did not turn up tonight. It is bewildering."
Ipswich's 69th-minute penalty was somewhat controversial.
Substitute Carlos Edwards stole possession off Cech and scampered away down the right, before being tripped by Dorrans. While contact looked just outside the box, referee Mick Jones pointed to the penalty spot.
Newton lamented: "I have watched it again on slow-motion and Graham has not touched him.
"He is on his way down and the action started outside the box, so it was a soft penalty.
"But the fact remains we did not deserve anything out of the game, simple as that."
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