Both managers praised Bristol City keeper Dean Gerken for his superb display as the Blues and Robins drew 0-0 at Portman Road. The former Colchester man made a string of saves to prevent Town taking all three points.

Blues bos Roy Keane said: "He was brilliant and sometimes you have to praise the opposition.

"We can talk about our misses but in the two games we've played against them their keeper's been brilliant and the difference between us having two points and six.

"It was a frustrating second half because we were outstanding. We were on the front foot, dominated and had chance after chance but their keeper had one of those days and it didn't look like we were ever going to score.

"We were making things happen, whereas in the first half we were waiting for things to happen.

"I was glad to see the back of the first half, because we never got going. Talk about two different halves. It was unbelievable.

"We've got to be careful not to turn up and expect things to happen. We've got to make them happen.

"In the second half the players were committed, taking people on, taking risks and we were a bit braver. But we have to start at 3pm.

"I couldn't wait to get the team in at half-time because we couldn't have been any worse in the first half. We waited for something to happen. You've got to make it happen.

"We were completely different in the second half. The players were outstanding but we just couldn't put the ball in the net.

"It's a clean sheet, so that's another positive but it's another draw and that's incredibly frustrating."

Keane thought his side might have been "cuter" and celebrated the late ‘goal’ from Connor Wickham’s long throw, which referee Nigel Miller felt wasn’t touched by Gerken or any other player.

Bristol City boss Gary Johnson also had praise for Gerken: "Our goalkeeper was the difference today.

"In the second half he came into his own and had to make three or four magnificent saves, maybe four or five.

"He certainly earned his money. Like all goalkeepers, they've got the odd mistake in them, whether they're on £200 a week or £50,000.

"They all make mistakes and when they do they're seen by everyone and they get punished.

"But Dean makes more saves than mistakes. That's for sure and when you've got a goalkeeper like that he's worth a lot to you. He's done very well today and I'm very proud of him."

Johnson says he knew his keeper hadn’t made contact with Wickham’s throw: "I knew it hadn't touched anyway, but I didn't know if the referee knew that.

"I don't know who ended up making the decision, to be honest, but we think it was the right decision."

Photo: Action Images

northdevonblue added 20:22 - Feb 27 of course YOU think it was the right decision
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Mark added 20:39 - Feb 27 We were denied by a fine goalkeeping performance today, and Town were excellent in the 2nd half. Pity about the first half when we were not so good, and it is yet another home game without a win on the day the season ticket renewal packs go out. I saw in the local press that Keane now thinks it could take him up to 5 years to get us promoted, rather than the 1 or 2 originally said. What do readers think of that? If we had a young side I could understand it, but we have brought in established professionals for big money and find ourselves much lower in the table than last year.

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alfromcol added 20:42 - Feb 27 End of season predictions of Town's league position ahead of the match today (27 February): 21 predictions with 14th position being the most popular. superblueflude 5th Me at 6th, bedsitfc 8th rockstar1981 9th, jabberjackson 10th brockleyblueboy 10th, ITGIRL 11th keanoITFC09 12th benny blue 12th tractorboy 14th cbower 14th (55 points) N4blue 14th DazzaITFC 14th waters2908 14th naa 15th, mightytown 16th kentblue 17th portman blue 18th ipswich1992 18th, dirtydingusmagee 19th italiano 22nd Let's all sit back and await the outcome on 2 May

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jas0999 added 21:37 - Feb 27 The Bristol Keeper was excellent today. If it wasn't for him we would have won quite comfortably. Sometimes you have to priase an opposition player and today that has to be Gerken.
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cbower added 21:50 - Feb 27 Was not at the match today but RK is right. We have to take the game to the opposition, especially when we are at home. Another draw is not what we were after but Bristol City have had only two draws less than us this season (which is saying something!) so perhaps it was the safest bet. Many are quick to point out RK's tactical naivety (myself included at times) but he, along with the players, must take some of the credit for what, by all accounts, was a vastly improved performance in the second half. If you are creating chances then that can be seen as positive - next step is to take them! Hope McAuley is withdrawn from NI squad as we need him playing for ITFC. Looking forward to Blackpool next week although I hope the weather is decent 'cos that ground can be damn cold and wet for away fans! A similar result to the FA Cup game would do nicely.

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kirbs added 23:00 - Feb 27 there keeper was class today, but I am still dissapointed with the draw we should be beating them at home. He made atleast 5 brilliant saves but we should of definately scored a couple of them especially murphey's effort when he was in. lucky enough for us results went our way but if we lose againts blackpool and a few teams aound us win then we are going to be back in that relegation zone again. we dont want to leave it till the last two games of the season to stay up!

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bennyblue added 03:22 - Feb 28 oops
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naaridge1coly7 added 21:18 - Feb 28 I cannot believe that 2 of you actually believe we ll finish in the top 6,you are completely insane,same old excuses week after week.....keane ur more boring than alan shearer....is that really possible??????!!!!! Bring back Burley.
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bennyblue added 05:22 - Mar 1 i most fully agree with above comment and reckon naarudge should win a slab of their choice for this weeks most spot on comment
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brockleyblueboy added 09:01 - Mar 1 We looked a lot better with Counago on the pitch. I still reckon we play murphy and healey up front with pablo just sat behind, apple to hold the ball up and then lay it off to either of them. Last game at Portman road for me for the forseeable future and a 0-0 would have been disapointing but hats off to their keeper, he was brilliant. We should be safe for the season but the Blackpool game is going to be very tough.

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BlackandBlue added 12:53 - Mar 1 THought the best player on the pitch was Jack Colback. Great link up play with Edwards, Walters and unlucky not score. All from a player playing out of position. If we're going to try and keep our loan players I'd rather it was him than Healy
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