Boss Mick McCarthy was delighted with the performances of Elliott Hewitt, Frank Nouble and Jay Tabb during Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Peterborough United. Hewitt was making his first league start for the Blues having signed from Macclesfield in the summer, ex-Wolves man Nouble his first start for Town in any competition and new loan signing from Reading Tabb his debut.

Nouble, 21, came closest to breaking the deadlock at London Road when he hit the post with a first half strike. Soon after, the ex-England U19 international had another effort saved by Posh keeper Bobby Olejnik, widely viewed as Saturday’s man of the match.

“I thought his two chances he created for himself with his power and pace,” McCarthy said. “The first one that hit the post was a fabulous strike and for the second one the keeper’s just made a great save.”

The Blues boss was similarly pleased with 18-year-old Hewitt, who came into the side for the suspended Richard Stearman at right-back: “He played well, I’m really pleased with him. And it’s a big game to come into.

“There might be people who hear that and question it, but actually it is because we’re both trying to stay in this league. It’s a pressurised game for a young kid to come and play and I thought he handled it well.”

Tabb, 29, joined from the Royals for a month on Friday and also impressed his new manager: “He was excellent, first class and it optimised him when in the last knockings he slid in and won a tackle and he was completely knackered at that stage.

“He’d got his 90-odd minutes in and he still managed to get back and do that. I thought he was terrific. I’m delighted with him, really, really pleased I’ve got him.”

The result saw the Blues drop to 20th in the Championship, four points from the relegation zone, having scored just twice in their last seven games.

McCarthy admits that this lack of goals is a worry: “We’re the lowest scorers in the division, so of course that’s a concern to me.

"But I’ll take the plus points out of it that we’ve played well and the keeper’s played well.

“It wasn’t just us missing, Tabby got in at the far post and Mark Little got a toe on it and the referee managed to give a throw-in to them — if he doesn’t get a toe on it he puts it in the net.

“The performance is good, but we’ve got to score. We work on it every single day, there’s always a finishing session and we’ll keep working at it.

“But if we play like that and we defend like that and we keep clean sheets, then we’ll be all right. I see the others around us won and it’s going to be tight right to the very end.”

Meanwhile, Town's U21s are in action against Brentford at Playford Road this afternoon (KO 1pm).

Photo: Action Images

ManningtreeBlue99 added 06:53 - Mar 11 That's what comes from playing players that belong to the club and want to be here, they are keen to prove their worth.
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BrettenhamBlue added 07:35 - Mar 11 Feel we have the right Manager in place but just hope the damage caused by Roy Keane and Paul Jewell doesn't prove too great. We need to stay in the division this season and (hopefully) have a settled year next. I hope (if we stay in) that every supporter doesn't go on and on and on about promotion next season. We should be looking for a top 10 finish- nothing more.

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itfc1981 added 09:36 - Mar 11 Manningtree, yeah Bullard proved his worth. Plenty of players get a contract then ease off. It's the mentality of the man that makes a player not whether they are here on loan or not.
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blueherts added 10:03 - Mar 11 Tabb looked liked Micky Stockwell and had an edge about him - liked that he kept going We have had afew 'coasters' in our team in recent years and he looks like a grafter - which in our situation is what you need Nouble looked ok to me - he did the same at Cardiff and wish he showed more of it - he seems to have another gear and breezes past a player Hewitt - solid debut and good to see him start a game - and have a choice now at RB - Looks a good footballer as well Bolton gonna be tough but I fancy us against them - play better now against better teams - our form vs the lower teams this season is woeful

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morgz259 added 10:23 - Mar 11 Really impressed with Hewitt thought he done a great job up and down the flank. Jay "The Tank" Tabb is a right little Unit. Didnt know nothing about him before the game, but if he he puts a shift in like that evey week. Alot of fans will be wanting him to sign that bit of paper at the end of his loan spell :) All round good effert Saturday boys
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mattb97 added 10:29 - Mar 11 Jay Tabb "excellent,first class" were you watching the same game MM that little hobbit was abysmal, im starting to doubt that soppy northern mugs judgement, 2centre mids out wide nearly as bad as PJs diamond.
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joshberry94 added 11:02 - Mar 11 perhaps not the desired result on saturday, but at least we didnt lose. been really impressed with recent performances and just one goal conceded - that being in the last 5 minutes with 9 men at forest - in the last 3 games is a really good sign for what is going to be a crucial last part of the season. defence has improved no end this year... also good to see nouble looking really sharp, signs are looking good for 13/14 IF we can stay up COYB!

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Simonds92 added 11:24 - Mar 11 Completely agree with all of that apart from Tabb. Looked very average to me, definitely hasn't convinced me he's the answer on the left hand side. Did think Nouble was very good however, wasn't sure when we signed him but he was impressive, seemed to just breeze past the defender as if there was no one there for his second chance. We did deserve the 3 points unfortunately their keeper made some world class saves

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Garv added 11:43 - Mar 11 Hewitt good, Nouble better, Tabb OK but I don't see what he brings to the party that we don't already have.
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Berts_chin added 11:48 - Mar 11 Personally would like to see Hewitt played wide right in midfield when Stearman returns at full back. He would add defensive cover, overlap and has the ability to deliver a ball.
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blueherts added 11:58 - Mar 11 Totaly agree with Bert about Hewitt - he looks a good footballer - we could actually have both our Full Backs as Midfielders - long term as both are decent players As for Tabb - as I said he is exactly the right player we need at the moment - in the mire we are in - once we are safe then yes - a more creative player - Wordsworth , for example is the man - Tabb put a good shift in for someone who not played since December. Unlike Huddersfield we did create chances and on another day woudl have scored Didnt miss Martin or Edwards - which says alot

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Popeye added 12:14 - Mar 11 Agree with you Berts_Chin, would like to see Hewitt at right mid as he has got the ability/pace to beat defenders and get to the byline and put crosses in but sadly i think MM will play it safe for the Bolton game, Stearman to return and Edwards or Drury right mid and Hewitt on the bench, we'll be solid but we wont create or score many!
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docsavage52 added 12:21 - Mar 11 Only player that should be on the team sheet is JET, he was striding round the pitch at half time with a "look at me Pose" and what did he d when he came on .................nothing
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docsavage52 added 12:25 - Mar 11 opps spelling mistake there, should have said should not be on the team sheet
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Tractastic added 13:15 - Mar 11 Have every faith in MM to keep us up.Great to see Nouble and Hewitt play well and if Chopra,JET and McGoldrick can find some form as well the goals will come and so will the wins. With two winnable homes games coming up although we are only 4 points clear of the relegation zone its also important to point out that we are only 3 points away from 13th position. We are now a team very hard to beat and although Bolton are on a good run it sounds as though they won against Brighton at the weekend against the run of play so confident we can pick up points.An ugly 1-0 will do me just fine. As Mick says the style will come later when we are safe. COYB.

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Keaneish added 13:55 - Mar 11 No idea why you got a minus for that bertschin, i think there's a lot of logi in doing that. Tough call for MM and TC ahead of Saturday's game who plays at right-back. I like your approach but i think Edwards will get the nod in games until we're safe. Tabb to replace N'Daw? Chopra for Nouble? Drury and Hewitt for Edwards and Stearman? Loach for Henderson? JET for Edwards? Murph for Tabb/Martin... Finally, competition for places. Something we've not had in a long time. Whatever MM and TC are doing in training and in their man management is having a great effect.

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Michael11 added 13:55 - Mar 11 Hewitt and Nouble were our two best players by a mile. Very impressed with Hewitt, he was strong when he needed to be and bombed down the wing and gave us the natural width we were lacking with Drury on the right. Nouble looked quick and powerful and put himself about so i'd keep him in the team next week.
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bigolconnor added 15:34 - Mar 11 Well done lads three relative new boys in a high pressure game did really well.
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BuckieBlue added 22:33 - Mar 11 I'm pleased to hear MM say he thinks we'll be safe becos coming from him I'd say that was confidence- I don't think MM does complacency!
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