LONDON: Ipswich manager Roy Keane slammed his side for sloppy defending after they lost their Championship opener 2-1 at Coventry City on Sunday.

Clinton Morrison bagged a brace for the Sky Blues but although Jon Walters sparked a mini-recovery by Ipswich the Suffolk side could not pinch an equaliser with home keeper Keiren Westwood making a number of fine stops.

Keane was furious as his side ensured that he will spend his 38th birthday on Monday brooding.

"We gave two very poor goals away and lacked sharpness in the final third but that will come in the coming weeks and months," said the former Manchester United firebrand.

"The first goal came from a goal-kick and the starting position of everyone was very poor.

"And the second one, Clinton has headed it at knee height. If you're a defender and he heads it that low you take his head off, it's as simple as that.

"I'll be down tonight but the day my appetite isn't affected by defeat I'll be out of the game. I am trying to learn from my experiences at Sunderland and not get too downhearted."

Coventry boss Chris Coleman said the win would lift some of the 'negativity' hanging over the club who were relegated from the Premiership back in 2001.

"Throughout pre-season there has been a lot of negativity around us," he said.

"I'm sure Roy will go back home and kick his cat because he hates losing but that's a feather in our cap," Coleman concluded.

On Saturday, Newcastle made a spluttering start to life in the Championship as the fallen giants scraped a 1-1 draw at fellow-relegated side West Bromwich Albion, Damien Duff levelling after Shelton Martis had put the Baggies ahead.

Cardiff City slammed promoted Scunthorpe 4-0 to celebrate moving to the new Cardiff City Stadium.

At Derby, Nigel Clough won the battle of the famous managerial sons as the Rams defeated Peterborough 2-1.

Clough, the son of former Nottingham Forest and Derby boss Brian, is in his first full season at Pride Park, while Peterborough are led by Darren Ferguson, son of Manchester United chief Sir Alex.

Gary Teale netted Derby's late winner after George Boyd's penalty for Peterborough had cancelled out Miles Addison's early opener.

Barnsley came from behind to draw 2-2 with Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough while Blackpool boss Ian Holloway's return to Loftus Road was spoiled by a late QPR equaliser in a 1-1 draw.

League One champions Leicester got their return to the Championship off to a great start as they beat Swansea 2-1 and Preston scored twice in the last eight minutes to draw 2-2 with Bristol City.

Reading were held to a goalless draw at the Madejski Stadium by Nottingham Forest who had Luke Chambers sent off.

Watford shared a 1-1 draw with Doncaster and Crystal Palace drew 1-1 with Plymouth.

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