Keeper Dean Gerken was pleased to have kept a third successive home clean sheet as the Blues defeated Rotherham 2-0 at Portman Road on Saturday.

“We were strong at the start of the game and getting two early goals really helped us,” the 29-year-old said. “They put up a good fight and that second half was difficult. People will see 2-0 and think it was easy but they made it hard.

“Our back four are so strong and the midfield two are solid defensively. The gaffer expects that from us.

“We had our backs to the ball but we kept our nerve and to keep three clean sheets in a row at home is very good.”

The victory moved the Blues up to fourth in the table, their highest position since briefly topping the table on the opening weekend of the 2011/12 season, before Wolves pushed them down to fifth following their 3-3 draw at Reading yesterday.

“It is brilliant to be top six but it is early doors,” Gerken continued. “Hopefully we’ll stay in with the pack.

“There wasn’t too much wrong before the four wins, we made slight mistakes here there and we were getting caught out.

“Sometimes the rub of the green does fall for you. We had a tough start but we have come on leaps and bounds after the international break. We have shown again what a solid team we can be.”

As for striker David McGoldrick’s stunning second goal, the former Colchester United and Bristol City man said it came as no surprise to the players: “We see that in Didzy every day in training.

“He is a class act and we were lucky to keep him, hopefully he can continue to propel us up the Championship.

“Daryl Murphy is brilliant too. Didzy must love playing with him because Murph takes all the bashes and bruises and he looks the flair player.

“There can’t be a centre-half who wants to play against him because he is tough and he has a great touch. His build-up play is excellent.

“We have only conceded seven goals, so it was just about tightening up in all areas. There wasn’t much wrong, it was about making just tweaks.

“We go out to win every game, if by nine games from the end of the season we are still winning games then we can be there or thereabouts.”

Photo: Action Images

samsonblue added 06:44 - Sep 29 Now all he needs is a CLEAN shave!!!
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bluemikey100 added 07:07 - Sep 29 FORTRESS PORTMAN ROAD
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Stato added 07:42 - Sep 29 Goalkeeper is our weakest position by a mile and as pleased as I am to see so many midfielders at the club I would have preferred to have seen some of the restricted budget we have go on getting us a better quality keeper.
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masetheace added 07:57 - Sep 29 Get lost BossMan - no doubt you were one of the Loach supporters who was again rooted to his line on Saturday.
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oncebluealwaysblue added 08:06 - Sep 29 BossMan - To have kept 3 clean sheets in 4 games, two of which were against fellow promotion candidates is very good going. Cleary you know nothing.
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Suffolk_n_Good added 08:10 - Sep 29 Sorry masetheace my chunky old fingers caught the wrong arrow! Agree completely, think Gerks has performed well this season, it's all to easy to criticise a goalkeeper, make a mistake anywhere else on the pitch & there is someone behind to cover, but make a mistake in goal, your vilified.
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Cakeman added 09:04 - Sep 29 Gerken has in my opinion performed consistently well all season. Sure he has made mistakes but every keeper does. He is part of a very solid defensive unit and deserves praise. More importantly, It is evident that the back four in front of him have full confidence in him. As much as Loach was liked for his undoubted love for Town, he is nowhere near the standard of Gerken as was demonstrated on Saturday.

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JimmyJazz added 10:15 - Sep 29 Not sure the players should be playing with their backs to the ball
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Fatboy added 12:53 - Sep 29 You beat me to it, JimmyJazz. It does make the clean sheet even more impressive, though!
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Stato added 14:12 - Sep 29 My post says goalkeeper is our weakest position but nobody came forward with an alternative position that needs strengthening as priority above that.
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JWM added 15:55 - Sep 29 Without Gherkins blinding save against Wigan we wouldn't have won the game and it was as good as scoring a goal at the other end. He earned his corn that day along with all the other players. So think on!
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oddball added 16:48 - Sep 29 How anyone can find negative things to say at the moment is beyond me :-)
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harlingblue added 23:38 - Sep 29 Gherkin has stepped up to the plate, knowing that a good keeper is awaiting his chance, he has upped his game and has become a very important part of our defence.
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