Ipswich boss Roy Keane described his side’s 3-1 defeat at Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday as a “horror show” but insisted there was no panic at Portman Road.

High-flying Boro took the lead in the first half with a Gary O’Neil header and wrapped it up late on with two strikes from substitute Jeremie Aliadiere. Ipswich got a stoppage-time penalty consolation from Jon Walters.

Ipswich had some good spells of possession but failed to make them count while slack defending handed a sharper Boro side an easy win.

“When you look at the goals we’ve conceded all season, it has been a horror show,” said Keane. “And there have been another three. We have had decent possession and always looked a threat but as soon as we lose it we are in trouble and we’ve conceded a goal. We can’t keep on giving the ball away.

“And up the other end too. We have put good balls into the area but not made them count. If it was about corners and balls into the box we’d be well clear at the top. We can’t keep on making excuses.”

Despite his side’s sticky start to the Championship campaign — Ipswich have got just two points from six games — Keane is not allowing himself to get unduly concerned.

“I wouldn’t call it a crisis,” he insisted. “Supporters may call it that but I would call it a challenge. We are certainly not panicking.

“Are we disappointed? Yes. Are we frustrated? Yes. But we are not panicking.

“We have a decent squad here and between the boxes we are playing some good stuff. Maybe we are lacking a bit of confidence at the moment because of the lack of a win but it will come, it will gel. It is early days yet.”