O'Dea has featured 11 times for Ipswich

Ipswich Town defender Darren O'Dea insists boss Roy Keane is not to blame for the side's recent slump.

Town are winless in their last five Championship outings and 23-year-old O'Dea, who is on loan from Celtic, says he and his team-mates are culpable.

"Every week we're prepared as well as we possibly can be by everyone at the club, we know everything about every team," he told BBC Radio Suffolk.

"It's down fully to the players, we're the only ones who can put it right."

The Republic of Ireland international is back in the Ipswich side after missing the whole of October with a knee injury.

The centre-half, who has been playing at left-back since his return to fitness, is set to head back to Celtic in January and is unsure whether he will extend his spell at Portman Road.

"I've genuinely no clue. All I'm concentrating on now is Ipswich and how we can win games and how I can improve as a player," he said.

"Come January that's up to other people but I'm certainly enjoying my time here."

Fellow defender Troy Brown has also rallied behind Keane.

The 20-year-old has been playing in the heart of a back four that has shipped seven goals in its last two league games.

"The gaffer's stuck to his ways and is still there fighting for us," he explained.

"We're all grafting, we'll stick together. You're always nervous before a game but I think nerves are good.

"Everyone's disappointed but we are digging deep to kick on and getting some victories under our belt.

"It's not like we haven't done it before so it can be done."

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