WEST Brom boss Roberto di Matteo has backed Roy Keane to lead Ipswich into promotion contention despite the Irishman's tough start to managerial life at Portman Road.
Keane's men have picked up just one point from their first three games and head to The Hawthorns for the late afternoon kick-off desperate to get their season up and running.
Di Matteo, whose Albion side are one of a number to sit on a healthy seven points, relished his battles with Keane as a player and believes those fighting qualities will soon come out.
The Italian said: "I think at the end of the season Ipswich will be up there. We had a few battles during our careers and I always enjoyed them. It was hard and tough but always fair.
"Ipswich will be very determined because they want to pick up some points. They will come here and make our life as difficult as possible and they will try not to give us any chances."
Keane admitted his side have made a slow start but said the occasion of a trip to one of the Championship promotion favourites will present a timely challenge for his struggling team.
He told www.itfc.co.uk: "We have not got up and running yet and we certainly have to improve in terms of results and in the quality of our play. We can't keep giving ourselves mountains to climb."
Newcastle, sitting alongside Albion on seven points, will have captain Nicky Butt back for their clash to Crystal Palace as the Magpies are once again swamped with takeover talk.
A Monday announcement is expected from owner Mike Ashley regarding a takeover attempt by Graham Roberts' Fans 410 consortium, and caretaker boss Chris Hughton has praised the fans who have stuck by the team.
Hughton said: "It is a wonderful crowd and one we most definitely don't want to take for granted. What we do know is that we have got to give them something to turn up in their thousands for."
Middlesbrough, also on seven points, hope to have Jeremie Aliadiere back for their clash with Doncaster after a hamstring strain. But Brazilian Afonso Alves is still on the sidelines.
Fellow pace-setters Coventry have no respite from injuries ahead of their home game with Swansea. Freddy Eastwood, Leon McKenzie, David Bell and James McPake are among those expected to be ruled out.
Di Matteo, whose Albion side are one of a number to sit on a healthy seven points, relished his battles with Keane as a player and believes those fighting qualities will soon come out.
The Italian said: "I think at the end of the season Ipswich will be up there. We had a few battles during our careers and I always enjoyed them. It was hard and tough but always fair.
"Ipswich will be very determined because they want to pick up some points. They will come here and make our life as difficult as possible and they will try not to give us any chances."
Keane admitted his side have made a slow start but said the occasion of a trip to one of the Championship promotion favourites will present a timely challenge for his struggling team.
He told www.itfc.co.uk: "We have not got up and running yet and we certainly have to improve in terms of results and in the quality of our play. We can't keep giving ourselves mountains to climb."
Newcastle, sitting alongside Albion on seven points, will have captain Nicky Butt back for their clash to Crystal Palace as the Magpies are once again swamped with takeover talk.
A Monday announcement is expected from owner Mike Ashley regarding a takeover attempt by Graham Roberts' Fans 410 consortium, and caretaker boss Chris Hughton has praised the fans who have stuck by the team.
Hughton said: "It is a wonderful crowd and one we most definitely don't want to take for granted. What we do know is that we have got to give them something to turn up in their thousands for."
Middlesbrough, also on seven points, hope to have Jeremie Aliadiere back for their clash with Doncaster after a hamstring strain. But Brazilian Afonso Alves is still on the sidelines.
Fellow pace-setters Coventry have no respite from injuries ahead of their home game with Swansea. Freddy Eastwood, Leon McKenzie, David Bell and James McPake are among those expected to be ruled out.
Copyright (c) Press Association
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