Bank Holiday Monday Championship round-up: With an Irish twist:

The nPower Championship is past the half-way stage now and the League Table is now painting an accurate picture at this time of the season, with teams jostling for position at both the top and bottom of the division.

Keane: ungraciously clings onto his

 job

Ipswich Town have lost yet again, this time losing 0-1 at home to Nottingham Forest. The winning goal came on the stroke of half-time and was a bizarre own goal from Damien Delaney, who just couldn't sort his feet out quickly enough after his 'keeper had parried the ball into the Cork man's path. The "Tractor Boys" have now lost seven of their last nine League matches (and have garnered zero league points in 10 of their last 14 ties). The club now stand just three points above the Championship relegation zone, yet manager Roy Keane is still somehow clinging onto his job. While Ipswich will nick a win here and there between now and the end of the season, they are certainly not going to get anywhere near promotion, in fact, they look much more likely to be dragged into a relegation battle than a promotion push, which, considering the tens of millions of pounds invested in the club, is a sad indictment of Roy Keane's managerial abilities. If Roy Keane had any dignity he would step aside and let a more capable man take over. Of course dignity is one quality which Mr. Keane has proven to be utterly bereft of time and time and time again.

Reading's Tipperary native (and ex minor inter-county hurler): former Cork City F.C. star Shane Long (pictured left) netted both goals in a 2-1 win for the home side over Burnley. Reading move up to eighth place with the win and are now just two points off the play-offs.

Elsewhere, two days after completing his permanent move to Portsmouth: Ireland international Liam Lawrence earned a penalty after a good run and then scored from the spot but couldn't prevent Pompey from losing 2-3 at home to Hull City in what was a Premier League fixture last season. Paul McShane's Hull move above Portsmouth into 15th with Pompey struggling in 18th place - five points above the nPower Championship relegation zone.