Article: Emily Pugh

Ipswich manager Roy Keane was in an understandably chipper mood when reflecting on his side's first away win of the season at Cardiff City Stadium, claiming: "With the chances today, we just about deserved it.

"It was an open game - I don't think it was of that great quality, the conditions didn't help, and we lost out keeper. When you play Cardiff they always play two upfront, so you know it's generally going to be an open game.

"We took them in at half-time knowing we could improve. It was going to be a test of character and to be honest the players have shown a good side to them today, and of late. Before the game I never thought the starting eleven would win the game for us, I always had a gut feeling that the subs would play a big part"

Keane also seemed to suggest that the win, a hard fought second half come back on a sodden day in the Welsh capital, indicated that his side had turned the corner in what has been a difficult season so far.

He said, "Our back four has been one of the big pluses of the last six or seven games. I think we've looked a lot more solid than we had done earlier in the season when we were giving goals away for fun. There's no doubt that we started the season poorly, but that's only two defeats in the last eleven or twelve games now."

"We've had injuries here, but even when we've lost games I've never used that an excuse because that's part of football and you've got to deal with it. If I thought that these players weren't up for the fight I'd be losing sleep, but I haven't been, instead I've been disappointed with the results. I work with these players every day, I know what they're about and we can certainly do a lot better that we've been doing."