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Page last updated at 12:19 GMT, Friday, 3 December 2010

Brendan Rodgers feels for Roy Keane's plight

Swansea City manager Brendan Rodgers
Brendan Rodgers was on the same Uefa pro-licence course as Keane

Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers says he feels for Ipswich boss Roy Keane ahead of Saturday's trip to Portman Road.

Ipswich made a promising start to the Championship season but a run of seven defeats from the last nine, has seen the Tractor Boys slip to 16th.

"He's obviously got a hell of a lot of pressure on him because no doubt he was arguably the top midfield player in his generation," said Rodgers.

"That always adds big, big pressure to whatever world he's in."

"His world is Ipswich now and as a manager you have to deal with the losses as they come."

Ipswich have lost their last four Championship games in a row, but returned to winning ways on Wednesday after knocking Premier League side West Bromich Albion 1-0 in the Carling Cup.

But Rodgers will only be concerned with third-place Swansea finding the winning touch again after being beaten 2-1 at home to Portsmouth last Friday and held at Doncaster the week before.

"That will be the intention," he said. "I always think with adversity you always find out more.

"We've had a terrific start to the season and along the way we're going to lose games.

"We're obviously disappointed because we've made such a good start and the two goals we gave away was uncharacteristic of us.

"It's a great chance for us to bounce back. The group have worked well this week and we'll take that enthusiasm and energy into Saturday's game."

A Swansea win would add more pressure on former Manchester United captain Keane who remains calm over his position.

And Rodgers is hoping for some good fortune for his friend who he took his Uefa pro-lices course with.

"Ultimately it's winning games," added Rodgers. "They've gone through a spell where they didn't win so much but they had a good result on Wednesday night and they'll be looking to kick on in league form so we know it's going to be a tough game for us.

"I speak to Roy, he's a good man, he wants to do it right and I hope after this weekend he can push on up the table again."



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see also
Ipswich 1-3 Swansea
04 Dec 10 |  Championship
Cardiff land FA Cup trip to Stoke
28 Nov 10 |  Welsh
Swansea 1-2 Portsmouth
05 Dec 10 |  Championship
Keane relaxed over Town backing
30 Nov 10 |  Ipswich
BBC Sport Wales coverage
03 Oct 11 |  Wales


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