Ipswich Town One To Watch: Roy Keane

Cardiff City host Ipswich Town on Sunday with both sides looking for the points at the respective ends of the table. City are on a 2 game losing streak and sit in fifth, while the Tractor Boys languish in 23rd and with just 1 win in 17.

Ipswich’s position is disappointing having flirted with the play-offs in recent years and finishing strongly last season under new boss Roy Keane. They have some good players in the ranks, including former Cardiff target Damien Delaney, trikcy winger Lee Martin and tough tackling defender Alex Bruce.

However, the man selected for special attention come Sunday is under fire manager Roy Keane – a fiery character who puts the ‘mental’ in temperamental. On the pitch he was vocal, aggressive and bullish while his dressing room rants have caused outrage amongst some former players. He has recently raged at journalists for asking him about his future, and a mobile phone ringing.

There’s no doubting Keane is under pressure, and he clearly isn’t very good at handling it. He did well to get a talented Sunderland squad promoted, but despite blowing a hefty budget – he failed, and is faring no better at Ipswich Town. A serious of meetings with his Chairman have suggested his job is either on the line, or under intense scrutiny and rumours of a dressing room mutiny have also emerged.

A win for Cardiff City is very much on the cards, but Keane will be giving everything to save his job, pride and to get his side motivated and fighting. He will surely be in for some stick if he gets too heavily involved from the touchline, but Keane can have a big effect on this game if he gets his tactics, and his side right.