Soccer:Roy Keane is looking forward to locking horns with Arsenal once again after Ipswich Town's League Cup quarter-final victory over West Brom last night. Ipswich defeated the Baggies 1-0 to set up a semi-final clash with the Gunners.
Keane’s battling team — hit by injuries and unavailable loan players — secured their semi-final place against Premier League title challengers Arsenal in January through a second-half penalty from Grant Leadbitter.
On the prospect of facing Arsenal, whom he enjoyed many great battles against as a player at Manchester 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 dedicated the victory to Ipswich’s fans after enduring a difficult relationship with supporters following a dire run of form which saw them slip to 16th in the Championship.
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 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.”
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.”