Town boss Mick McCarthy was full of praise for his four defenders and goalkeeper after Saturday’s 3-0 victory at Charlton.

The Blues manager stuck by his regular backline of Christophe Berra and Tommy Smith at the centre of the defence, skipper Luke Chambers at right-back, Jonas Knudsen at left-back and Dean Gerken in goal despite Town conceding two poor goals - by no means the first of the season - in last week’s 2-2 home draw with Wolves.

"The back four were great, and we had Gerks who made three magnificent saves. I just said to him, ‘Man of the match and we won 3-0’," he said.

“I think they are [my best back five], no doubt. I’m not being critical of Bart because if he was in I’d probably be saying that that’s my best back five.

“I think they’re just as good [as one another] but Gerks has got the gloves and possession is nine tenths of the law.

“The other four have been terrific, they really have. It was Tyrone Mings last year but I think Jonas has come in and filled that slot really well.”

Referring back to comments he made at Friday’s pre-match press conference, he added: “I said to you that they’d be playing and they’ll be playing next [Friday] as well.”

Photo: Action Images

Dwillams57 added 06:47 - Dec 1 Is there any point in arguing with Mick. He won't change his mind. The defenders and goalie played well on Saturday but they didn't have much to play against. The fact that gerkin had to make three brilliant saves shows the defence was a bit shaky. Unfortunately middlesborough will be a much sterner test. We shall see how good they are then. It won't really matter as they will all be playing in the next game anyway.

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warktheline added 06:51 - Dec 1 Your Achilles heel, time will tell!
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BlueBoots added 06:54 - Dec 1 Someone better tell Mick that we're playing on Friday this week, not Saturday :-)
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boroughblue added 07:20 - Dec 1 I wouldn't say gerken made 3 fantastic save. I think it was one routine, one hard, and ONE fantastic save from the header. i also wouldn't say that our back four is the strongest because we did still look a bit shaky. but that said we did keep a clean sheet so im not going to moan. You can only beat what is infront of you.
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GiveusaWave added 07:31 - Dec 1 We have had a few solid tests of our back 5 already and I for one am not convinced. We had a great game against Charlton, granted. But we need a new right-back and even after Gerkens 10 out of 10 performance I'm not convinced he should be our number 1. In fact, with someone like Stockdale in goal and a natural right-back in place I think we would be challenging for a top 2 spot. I am assuming funds is the issue, and MM has (to be fair) done really well given the limited resources. But regardless Chambers is better in CD. Can you imagine this team? Stockdale Cyrus Christie, Chambers, Berra, Knudsen Fraser, Skuse, Douglas, Sears Pttman, Murphy With Smith, Bru, Bishop, AMN, Hyam, Mcgoldrick etc on the bench. Now that is a team with DEPTH that could challenge. I think we are only TWO players away from that....

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Ipswichlove added 07:42 - Dec 1 Mick. We have kept one keep clean. Calm down mate
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DanLyles added 07:46 - Dec 1 Over the course of a season Gerken makes far too many mistakes. Don't get me wrong he can have brilliant games like he did at the weekend, but he has cost us so many avoidable goals in the past. Knudsen looked so secure and confident to begin with but I have seen teams target him all too often. I hope he turns out to be another great left back and he is starting to improve but I would feel more comfortable with Parr playing there. Chambers and Berra all the way for me. Smith, like Gerken, has some great games and contributes with goals but costs us alot of goals over the course of a season. Chambers is improving at rb but is so much better at cb and we need his leadership and the balance of having a right and left footed cb. McCarthy may take advantage of the situation at the Reebok and possibly look to secure Josh Vela who can play right back or midfield.

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Len_Brennan added 08:06 - Dec 1 @DanLyles. I agree with every part of your post, even down to having wondered if Vela /Bolton is an option/opportunity for us in January. Your points are fair, objective & considered, however I would still expect you to be called a moaner by some just for expressing your views. Gerken had a very good game on Saturday, no question, but his ability as a good shot stopper is not what the issue is for many of us. There's far more to being a top class keeper than just making some great saves, and while they might win you motm in one game it is the points total won/lost over the course of the season which determines whether or not he's good enough to be in goal for a promotion chasing side.

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BlueKush added 08:07 - Dec 1 Possession is 9/10ths of the law? After 15 games Gerken's finally caught up with the amount of catches Bart made in his 3 games... If you're playing for Mick McCarthy, you'd better hope your dad doesn't die! You'll be out, and no matter how sh*te your replacement performs, "possession is 9/10ths of the law". FFS The damage is done anyway. Haven't heard Mick sounding so cocky since - the beginning of our cack run...

0

blueherts added 08:51 - Dec 1 Hmm , lets see Mick - nice little run going Mick but if we want to push on in second half I think we need to strengthen at the back - Only Bolton have conceded more than us away from home
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muccletonjoe added 08:51 - Dec 1 I do think it is a bit early for mm to be saying I told you so. It wasn't so much the shot stopping by gerken on Saturday as the coming out to punch and catch crosses. Knudsen is very clearly no better than parr, and to be lauding the whole back 5 as a strong unit who are untouchable is a little short sighted in my opinion
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itfchorry added 08:53 - Dec 1 BlueKush - What a really bad comment -
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HarryS_H added 09:00 - Dec 1 We as fans know very little about football so shouldn't comment on what mick decides to do! The fact of the matter is we are goal difference from where we should at the very least be and we've already had our blip for the season. Stop moaning about mick because without him we'd quite possibly be in league 1!!
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PhilTWTD added 09:03 - Dec 1 BlueBoots Should have spotted that, have amended!
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HarryS_H added 09:04 - Dec 1 And for those of you who still doubt tommy smith you are deluded! He has been our best defender this season without a doubt and many of these "mistakes" you lot say he has aren'tactually all his fault. Mostly it's the mmidfield not defending or even berra or chambo making mistakes. Tommy has more than deserved his place in this back five which is definitely the strongest one we have. Arguably bartos could go in there or parr but equally they are on a parr (sorry about the pun) with those already in the defence so I, as always, agree with mick!!!

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thebeat added 09:19 - Dec 1 HarryS_H people dont doubt Smith when playing in his correct position but hes clearly uncomfortable playing on the right and it doesnt help him covering for Chambers as much as he does. At the end of the day he doesnt pick himself to play there.
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thebeat added 09:20 - Dec 1 Mick you cannot tell me Parr isnt a better fullback than Chambers or Knudsen. Please dont insult my intelligence.
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vanmunt added 09:22 - Dec 1 Pig headed when losing then smug as hell when we win is not very endearing Mick.
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jert16 added 09:25 - Dec 1 Suuuuper Mick Mcarthey!!!! COYB
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gippeswyk added 09:36 - Dec 1 Some people are never happy. We've not lost in 6 games, our strikers are scoring for fun again, we're letting in less goals, confidence is back....but still the boo boys complain about one of the best managers we've been lucky to have in a long time who has done brilliantly with limited funds. If we can't get behind our team when we're winning, what do they have to do?!

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Crawfordsboot added 09:47 - Dec 1 For crying out loud will you whingers give the man some credit! He was an international centre half and an international manager. Having played at the highest level isn't it about time you gave him some credit and accept that he knows more about defending and team tactics than the average fan. We are just outside the play off places on goal difference only. There are seventeen other teams in the division whose fans would gladly be where we are. But still you moan about favourites and sh**e players. Are your lives so sad that all you can do is moan and whine.

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thebeat added 09:52 - Dec 1 What other "international centre half and international manager" do you know that would play a centre half at rightback for 3 seasons to the detriment of the team?
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Fatboy added 09:52 - Dec 1 Much as I agree that they were three fine saves, the first and possibly the second should have been dealt with by Gerken coming off his line to claim the ball prior to Charlton having the opportunity to shoot.
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carsey added 09:54 - Dec 1 I have jut watched the Charlton game again and while I'm pleased we won and Murphy got another couple the match itself was awful. Never more than 3 or 4 passes in a row, defenders and mid-fielders hoofing the ball into no mans land. it is going to be a different prospect against Middlesborough on Friday.
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ArnieM added 10:15 - Dec 1 Not so different. I suspect we shall still be hoofing it high and anywhere.
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