Roy Keane has dismissed the idea that there is a fear factor at Ipswich Town.

The Blues are in a perilous position – bottom of the Coca-Cola Championship table heading into this afternoon's match at fellow strugglers Reading.

They have only won once in 15 games and the word “fear” has been used to describe the environment inside Portman Road.

But Keane stressed: “I haven't noticed any fear. You have to be careful using that word.

“The players are playing a game of football.

“It's a challenge and should be enjoyed.

“We came into football to enjoy it, so fear shouldn't come into it.

“Sometimes a manager faces the media and covers things up, but I honestly haven't noticed anything like that.

“I look at our situation and the worst thing that could possibly happen is that I would lose my job.

“That wouldn't be the end of the world.

“Life would go on and Ipswich would go on, so there's nothing to be feared. Lots of people lose their jobs.”

Keane refused to get too downbeat when his side were losing regularly in August and September.

Equally, he is not getting over-excited by one win and insists his players will be thinking along the same lines.

“If you think I need to keep an eye on the players after one victory you're mistaken,” he said.

“If we'd won ten games on the bounce then maybe.

“Whatever happened last weekend – whether we'd won, lost or drawn – we'd have moved on.

“That's the beauty of football. There's always another game round the corner.

“We look at our position in the table and know we should be doing a lot better.

“But the atmosphere in the dressing room hasn't changed. It's fine.

“I haven't noticed anything different in terms of the players' body language on the training ground.

“The spirit has always been good.

“The players have been playing with a confidence and freedom, but it's just one win. Everyone needs to relax.

“The players enjoyed it and deserved it, but now we need a few more.

“Victories in this division mean everything because it's so tight, so we want to build on what happened last weekend at Reading.”

Keane is looking forward to facing another footballing friend this afternoon in the shape of Royals boss Brendan Rodgers.

And he insists he is not in a position to question other people's records in the game, given that the Royals have not won at home since January.

“There's been lots of changes at Reading and it's always difficult to talk about others clubs because you don't know what's going on,” he said.

“But it takes time for a new manager to get his message across and recently the signs have been a lot more encouraging for them.

“Anyway, we're in no position to be questioning other team's performances. We're below them.

“You get no sympathy in football, anyway. It's about looking after yourself and getting results.”

Keane explained his background with Rodgers.

“Brendan was on the same Pro Licence (coaching course),” he said.

“That's the beauty of these things. You meet a lot of good people and good coaches and he was one of them.

“I'll look forward to having a drink with him afterwards, just as I did last week with Nigel (Rams boss Nigel Clough).

“But we're going there to do the business, not for an old pals act.”

Keane insists there is no better time to win a match than heading into an international break.

“You ask every manager up and down the country and ask them when is the best time to get a good result and they'll say before an international break,” he said.

“Sometimes you have a bad result on a Saturday but you have another game on the Tuesday.

“They can be a long two weeks but I'm sure Brendan will say exactly the same thing to his Reading players.

“We both want a positive result.”

For a Reading v Town report, reaction and pictures, see Monday's Daily Gazette.