SHEFFIELD United manager Kevin Blackwell says that Ipswich Town's poor recent record will count for nothing in the Championship fixture at Bramall Lane tonight (kick-off 7.

SHEFFIELD United manager Kevin Blackwell says that Ipswich Town's poor recent record will count for nothing in the Championship fixture at Bramall Lane tonight (kick-off 7.45pm).

'Roy Keane is a good bloke who I have a lot of time for,' said Blackwell, who will be looking for his side to bounce back after a surprise 2-1 defeat at Swansea at the weekend.

'This season has not gone as well as he would have liked, but sometimes you have to give people time.

'There is no doubt that Ipswich are in a transitional period, but they know where they want to go.

'Sometimes the journey there can be tough and everybody in football can see what Roy is trying to do.

'Ipswich have some good players and for me their past results will count for nothing tonight.'

Winger Keith Treacy suffered a knee injury at Swansea and a scan is expected to reveal some sort of ligament damage.

And with Northern Ireland international Jamie Ward sidelined with a torn hamstring, losing Treacy for a substantial period of time would deal a major blow to Blackwell's hopes of consolidating United's promotion quest.

'My squad is too thin as it is,' added Blackwell, who is expected to name just six substitutes tonight.

'Keith and Jamie both look as if they're going to be out so it's a window of opportunity for someone else.

'Keith went in for a block tackle and jarred his knee. Something might have been pushed back in the joint and we're going to have to see what the medical people say.'

Kyel Reid or Glen Little will be competing to take Treacy's place in the starting line-up, although Alan Quinn's brother Stephen could be moved out wide.

Blackwell left South Wales in an angry mood on Saturday and said: 'We learned a harsh lesson against Swansea.

'If you're sloppy then you end up in trouble. We controlled the game but not the result.'