Source: Team_Talk
Keane despairs at poor defending
The Magpies returned to the top of the table with the thumping win while Keane saw his side achieve the unwanted record of making the worst start to a season in the club's history.[LNB]Keane has now gone nine league games without a win this campaign to see his side slump to 23rd in the table.[LNB]A Kevin Nolan hat-trick and a free-kick from Ryan Taylor condemned Ipswich to defeat, and Keane admitted he expected the backlash that came from the fans at full-time.[LNB]He said: "The game was dead and buried by half-time. We conceded some unbelievably bad goals and we just have to defend better.[LNB]"I don't know if Nolan has scored a hat-trick before but he won't get an easier chance to get one. He must have thought it was Christmas.[LNB]"I'm not daft, a lot of supporters voiced their opinions at the end but that is fair enough. They pay their money and they are entitled to that. But we will keep going."[LNB]Nolan's first goal particularly annoyed Keane as the midfielder was afforded a free header from Taylor's precise delivery.[LNB]His third goal was another soft header from inside the six-yard box but Keane insisted his players were not distracted by the fanfare surrounding a tribute to Sir Bobby Robson.[LNB]Both sets of fans honoured the late Robson throughout as Ipswich renamed a stand in honour of their former manager, who died in July.[LNB]Keane said: "It didn't affect the team, what affected them was conceding the second goal so quickly after the first.[LNB]"It should have been something to enjoy, there was a good energy in the stadium but we keep giving teams a helping hand.[LNB]"You have to cope with set-pieces, it's basic stuff.[LNB]"There are no magic wands and confidence comes with results. The longer this run goes on then the harder it will get.[LNB]"We have our pride and it has been massively dented. It is hard to take but we have the chance to start to put it right against Sheffield United on Tuesday.[LNB]"But if we give goals away like we did today, we will get beat on Tuesday. There is no doubt about that."[LNB]Newcastle caretaker manager Chris Hughton was delighted with his side's performance as they crushed the home side with three goals in four first-half minutes.[LNB]Hughton and his players all attended the memorial service for Robson last Monday at Durham cathedral and ensured they honoured his memory with an emphatic win.[LNB]He said: "This group of lads were all at the memorial for Sir Bobby on Monday and that was an emotional occasion.[LNB]"The players were delighted to attend and we all tried to put on a performance for Sir Bobby.[LNB]"It was a special result and a special performance.[LNB]"It's a wonderful feeling to go in at half-time with the cushion we had and it doesn't happen very often.[LNB]"It's a massive boost to go top. The most important thing is that we are fighting at the right end of the table.[LNB]"There are a lot of teams around us who are not dropping many points so to go top is testament to this group of lads."[LNB][LNB]
