Daryl Murphy has leapt to the defence of co-striker Frank Nouble as he finds himself the target of criticism from a section of the Town support.

Nouble partnered Murphy in last week’s 3-0 defeat at Leicester, the first game since 16-goal top scorer David McGoldrick was ruled out for the remainder of the season with a knee ligament injury.

Murphy said: “It’s tough. We know what Didzy can do and what he has done for us over the course of the season, but Frank came in and I thought he did quite well.

“The group of players we have now is what we’ve got until the end of the season and we have to cope with the loss of Didzy. We now need to start winning games and picking up points.

“Frank is similar to me. I think he’s more or less the same as what I do. He’s a big, strong lad and a lot quicker than what I am. He’s a handful and on his day he’s a very, very good player.

“I think he’s been unlucky not to get a run in the team but I think he’s got a chance now to show how good he is.

“I’ve heard some fans have been having a go but it’s hard for players, when they are only getting on the pitch for 15 or 20 minutes, to make an impact. I don’t think people understand that.

“You do need a run of games to get your fitness and confidence levels up, and just improve your game really. Obviously, he’s not had that but now it’s a chance for him to prove what we already know — that he’s a good player.”

Murphy disagrees that it might need a few games for his partnership with Nouble to gel, adding: “We’ve played together before so I don’t think that will be a problem. We train every day together so we know each other’s game and hopefully we can start scoring a few goals between us.

“Also, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake has looked sharp in training. He had a setback on his debut against Preston and it took him a bit longer than he’d hoped to recover and get back to full fitness. But he’s back again and when he came on in the game last week I thought he did well.”

Photo: Action Images

BlueMachines added 06:22 - Feb 28 Hasn't had a run in the team? What planet is Murphy on?
4

lowtit added 06:25 - Feb 28 planet mid-table mediocrity
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JCBLUE added 07:50 - Feb 28 Supporting your team mates is the right thing to, but I really hope SEB plays against Birmingham.
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wkj added 08:09 - Feb 28 Nouble played well end of last season, as he and JET had good chemistry and play decent together. I feel this year the style of build up play we have adopted requires players to have a good degree of ball control and vision. Saly Nouble has shown very little of both from the games i have seen. I feel Nouble is not a good player in a 4-4-2 but does much better in a 4-3-3 formation. I personally feel if I was in charge I would be tempted to play Murphy and Taylor with Marriott/SEB (until fully fit) on the bench. I just don't feel Nouble can cut the cloth at this level. With Mick and Terry in charge and favouring Nouble, all I can say is I hope I am proven wrong. I still love Mick and Terry and feel they are the real deal, I just dislike the way Nouble is playing this year.

2

PYBlue added 08:23 - Feb 28 His useless we all know it so move on and stop speaking rubbish Murphy.
4

Keaneish added 08:51 - Feb 28 But good partnerships are made of contrasting styles so Nouble should be a replacement for Murphy not for didsy.
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thebeat added 09:02 - Feb 28 Fair play to Murph for sticking up for his team mate but he's not blind, he knows.We all know.Apart from Mick, he seems oblivious
5

GerkensBeard added 09:17 - Feb 28 Not had a run in the team!! So everytime we have played 4-3-3 this season which is about 15 times hes started so is that no considered having a run in the team? Simple as he has no natural ability, first touch is awful but yes is a good athlete but as I keep stressing just being an athlete isn't good enough.
6

BrettenhamBlue added 09:38 - Feb 28 Nouble has scored 12 goals in the league since Jan 2009. Says it all really. Badly need a fully fit SEB if we are to have any hope of the play-offs this season. Given our present position (we could still get a play-off place), I am surprised we didn't sign Wickham or an alternative striker
2

Hoppersblue10 added 09:44 - Feb 28 Wickham.....FFS give it a rest, you really think we could afford his wages.? I don't rate Nouble one bit but he has the rest of the season to prove me and many others wrong. C'mon Frank lets see what you are made of.!
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Scuzzer added 09:53 - Feb 28 My only concern is that in a 442 the two are too similar. It works better in a 433. The third forward needs to be Taylor. Hope this is what we start with tomorrow. Will Williams start tomorrow, probably not in a 433...oh calamity ...what to do? Glad I'm not Mick.
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mickymacsbarmyarmy added 10:13 - Feb 28 "on his day franks a very good player"...wake up & smell the coffee daryl...he's played nearly 50 games for town & hasnt had a good day yet !!
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GerkensBeard added 10:52 - Feb 28 Williams ideal position is at the top of the midfield 3 in a 4-3-3 and would be more than happy if I saw a midfield of Skuse, Green, Williams and a front 3 of Taylor, Murphy, Hunt but we can all dream
2

Guthrum added 10:58 - Feb 28 So, Nouble's professional footballer team mates think he's good, his Manager (highly experienced, with a very successful record at club and international levels) and coaches think he's good, but some fans don't like him so he must be awful?
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Surco72 added 11:47 - Feb 28 Guthrum ... I agree Nouble is a world beater because MM and Murphy say so !! No bother taking into account that his first touch is shocking , he cant head , he cant shoot and his positional sense and runs are poor . Murphy only wants him in as it makes his scoring record look good !
2

TimmyH added 12:08 - Feb 28 This sounds ominous that Murphy is backing him almost as if he's his choice beside him. Really need SEB to get fit quickly. Unfortunately again tomorrow I feel he'll be starting.
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Scribble added 12:58 - Feb 28 You obviously haven't been to see a game this season Guthrum
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thebeat added 13:42 - Feb 28 Guthrum Joe Royle thought Parkin and Proudlock were good players aswell, and we all know what happened there. Mick and TC are just trying to prove they can make a silk purse from a sows ear, its not gona happen im afraid
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Hiltzkooler added 13:52 - Feb 28 Stubborn, blinkered, belligerent springs to mind Mick...now you've got Murphy pitching in his fourpeneth as well...genius...therefore it must be right..the lad Nouble can play....!..another contender for why the ground is half full/declining attendances Guthrum?
1

itfc_4ever added 18:59 - Feb 28 there completely different types of players as Murphy can win headers and nouble cant
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