Boss Mick McCarthy says Town will keep scrapping away and will see where they end up after climbing to fifth in the table following a September which has seen them claim 13 points from a possible 15.

“We’re hard to beat and we’ve certainly improved,” McCarthy said after Tuesday's 1-1 draw at Sheffield Wednesday. “We’ll keep scrapping away and we'll see where we end up, if we beat last season’s position.”

He added: “I’m happy with the squad. We want to get promoted, we set off with desires and designs of the top six.

“I don’t think we’re one of the best teams in the league or one of the best squads, although we’re turning out to be a competent squad.”

McCarthy looks certain to be at least nominated for September’s Manager of the Month award and could become the first Town boss to carry off the gong since Joe Royle in November 2004.

The Town manager, who while with Sunderland was coincidentally amongst the nominees to lose out to Royle, has picked up the award three times with his previous clubs, once with Wearsiders and twice with Wolves, most recently in November 2008.

McCarthy’s biggest current problem, aside from the possibility of suffering the infamous Manager of the Month curse, is deciding which of his players to leave out.

However, he says he’d rather have too many players than too few: “It’s better than looking round at the bench, keeping looking, keeping looking and realising your best XI are on the pitch and you can’t change it. That is a real worry. Having options on the bench is lovely.”

He says Paul Anderson is amongst those who have been unfortunate to be left out of some recent games: “Ando’s been unlucky. I changed it at Wigan and we won handsomely there. I thought it was a really good performance and left it alone for Saturday and we won again.

“It’s difficult to have a chance to coach what you want to do on a Monday if you’re going to change it because all the lads are still recovering and knackered if you have them running around. And then when we have to drive up to Sheffield that doesn’t help.

“So, it was easier to leave it alone but change a couple of the personnel. Ando’s a wide player really, but I thought he did well on Saturday.

“Kevin Bru played Saturday, so I’d got Skusey, who had been a mainstay of the team, and Bish, who has been great, so I just put them back in and that gave us fresh legs.”

The Town boss was impressed with the Owls during Tuesday’s game: “I thought they were decent, Sheffield Wednesday. I think they’ve had a really good start to the season.

“I think they’ve got a good shape to them. Stevie May’s added something to them, Atdhe Nuhiu, the big fella up front, he’s a proper handful in this league.

“Jacques Maghoma, Chris Maguire, I think they’ve got a good shape. They didn’t change it to play against our 4-3-3 [from the start, although] they did at one stage during the game. I think they’re a decent side.

“Like the rest of us, they’re hardworking, they always put a shift in and if you do that you’ve got a chance.”

Photo: Action Images

tazdac added 06:14 - Oct 2 Should it be 13 points from 15? 4 wins and a draw.
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big_gaz67 added 06:55 - Oct 2 Just watched the you tube video - if Gerks could stand up rather than dive away from a header it would be 15 out of 15. That's three points he's cost us so far!!
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big_gaz67 added 06:55 - Oct 2 Just watched the you tube video - if Gerks could stand up rather than dive away from a header it would be 15 out of 15. That's three points he's cost us so far!!
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village_blue added 07:09 - Oct 2 Yes 13 points from 15 and Gerks will cost us points during the season. A new number1 goalkeeper could be the difference at the end of the season between PO's or not.
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krizz00 added 07:13 - Oct 2 Yup, it's 13 from 15 in September not 12.
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GerkensBeard added 07:17 - Oct 2 So are people forgetting the countless times he's kept us in games during this unbeaten run? He's in the best form I've ever seen him in a town shirt and its it very difficult for any goalkeeper to react from that header. I think he's been excellent this season.
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Stato added 07:27 - Oct 2 We have competition for places everywhere accept goalkeeper and it has become our weakest position in the current squad. All teams look to improve upon what they have already got and I think we should be looking to improve our goalkeeping options.
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Blue_Again added 07:30 - Oct 2 That Gerken should have done a back flip caught the ball and then scored with a solo run then save a cat off the North stand roof then put out a Fire with his beard..
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ipswich74 added 07:33 - Oct 2 Gerken has been brill lads.it show u when u get rid off a bad apple like taylor what can b achived
11

Rentaghost added 07:34 - Oct 2 Jeez no pleasing some people. Probably moan about their birthday and christmas presents. Ill just phone Man City and see if Joe Hart fancies some time at Portman Road.
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masetheace added 07:41 - Oct 2 I'm sick of the idiots on here who moan about the keeper . Have a look at all the videos and see how many times he has made outstanding saves . I suppose now you will say thats only doing his job , but I rarely hear a moan when a striker misses a chance to win a game
25

bongoblue91 added 07:42 - Oct 2 Do you mean two points he's cost us? Give the man a break, he was awesome in the last 15 against Wigan!
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BlueandTruesince82 added 07:51 - Oct 2 All keepers make mistakes during the course of a season, all players do in fact. Gerks has upped his game from last season and has had almost npthong but praise on the forum for the most part this year yet now having conceeded 1 goal in the last 5 we need a new keeper? Give over.
21

ipswich74 added 08:22 - Oct 2 Gerks has been brillllllll anyone who says anything different needs to watch a different sport as ye diffenly no nothing about football.the team is going about there buissness in the right way.very hard to win away on tues nite would take a point any day in sheffield.we should b all pulling together like the team is and as i said earlyr once we got rid of that p-ic- taylor we have started moving in right direction.top 6 forsure happy days fact y

9

phillo added 08:29 - Oct 2 Logged in just to negative big_gaz67 & village_blue ! Come on guys ! 13 points out of 15 & all you can find to do is moan about Gerks ....... who as others have said has made some great saves this year & WON us the 3 points in the last 15 mins against Wigan. Easy to remember a goal keeping mistake as it generally ends up as a goal ...... not so easy to remember the saves that stop a goal ! Maybe try something .... enjoy the success we are having (it's been a few years waiting !) ..... go on, let yourselves enjoy it !

13

petermorris added 08:53 - Oct 2 big_gaz67 & village_blue — try watching the video again and tell us which of our DEFENDERS decide to DEFEND the corner? In case you struggle with this - none is the answer.
3

ChrisL_ITFC added 08:54 - Oct 2 Gerken gained the club two points at Wigan. (it would have n=been a draw had it not been for his efforts late on in the game. He also made a terrific save in the Rotherham game for which his own defenders and the opposition players applauded him. Every goalkeeper, just like outfield players makes mistakes. Gerken is playing as well as anybody else in the team at the moment. Based upon results I would suggest the goalkeeper and back four should be kept in the team.

1

PhilTWTD added 08:59 - Oct 2 Oops, yes 13 from 15, typo.
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whosroundisitanyway added 09:20 - Oct 2 BossMan So how many top class goalkeepers should we have at the club as bench warmers to provide competition ? More to the point exactly who do you think they would be???
1

tractorkent added 09:26 - Oct 2 stop moaning and just enjoy the good run we are on.I think Greks has done well. as has the rest of the team.
1

morgz259 added 09:32 - Oct 2 It is frustrating hearing all these negative comments about any of the players let alone gerken!!! I havn't had the luxury of going to any games this season as yet, living in Lowestoft and funds, work, family ect. But I am a radio listener when ever I can and the amount of times Ive heard gerkens name being mentioned for save after save is nice to hear and also before sheff wed game I do beleive we had 3 clean sheets!!! I dont think we need no more additions to the squad now williams is here. Once stewart and hunt are back in first team action well take the league by storm :) ITFC

0

Lightningboy added 10:15 - Oct 2 The biggest problem is that Mick will now probably be landed with the dreaded "manager of the month" hoodoo....aaaaarghh.
3

BlueNomad added 10:35 - Oct 2 It's strange that Murph (for example) doesn't seem to have attracted any sustained criticism, because he is rightly seen by the majority to be having a good season. Those moaning about Gerks ought to remember that Murph missed howlers against Norwich and Sheff Weds which, had they gone in, would have put us top! I haven't seen that mentioned on here. Everyone makes mistakes and if that is accepted Gerks should be highly praised for his season so far.

2

Surco72 added 10:50 - Oct 2 Thinks Gerks has improved a lot this season compared to last , and as others say all players make mistakes , if they didn't they probably wouldn't be playing for us or at this level . Back four looks so much better with natural full backs and Chambo in his best position . Still think breaking up Ando,Skuse ,Hyam,Tabb midfield had to be done and the results have proved it ,that we were crying out for some spark of creativity . Hope Sammon doesn't become the new Nouble - for me lot of work rate but doesn't look like being a regular scorer for a forward ?

1

spanishblue added 11:30 - Oct 2 There are people on here that can be described as blinkered byas ------- totally agree with the person who said we've got rid of the bad eggs you just have to see how things have changed since there exits as for Gerks he at times has Ben largely responsible for keeping 3points for us so shut up and leave the guy alone he had no time to react if you won't to blame someone look at the replay again onward and upwards you blues Have nice day

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