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Managers Praise City Keeper Gerken - Ipswich Town News

Both managers praised Bristol City keeper Dean Gerken for his superb display as the Blues and Robins drew 0-0 at Portman Road. The former Colchester man made a string of saves to prevent Town taking all three points.

Blues bos Roy Keane said: "He was brilliant and sometimes you have to praise the opposition.

"We can talk about our misses but in the two games we've played against them their keeper's been brilliant and the difference between us having two points and six.

"It was a frustrating second half because we were outstanding. We were on the front foot, dominated and had chance after chance but their keeper had one of those days and it didn't look like we were ever going to score.

"We were making things happen, whereas in the first half we were waiting for things to happen.

"I was glad to see the back of the first half, because we never got going. Talk about two different halves. It was unbelievable.

"We've got to be careful not to turn up and expect things to happen. We've got to make them happen.

"In the second half the players were committed, taking people on, taking risks and we were a bit braver. But we have to start at 3pm.

"I couldn't wait to get the team in at half-time because we couldn't have been any worse in the first half. We waited for something to happen. You've got to make it happen.

"We were completely different in the second half. The players were outstanding but we just couldn't put the ball in the net.

"It's a clean sheet, so that's another positive but it's another draw and that's incredibly frustrating."

Keane thought his side might have been "cuter" and celebrated the late ‘goal’ from Connor Wickham’s long throw, which referee Nigel Miller felt wasn’t touched by Gerken or any other player.

Bristol City boss Gary Johnson also had praise for Gerken: "Our goalkeeper was the difference today.

"In the second half he came into his own and had to make three or four magnificent saves, maybe four or five.

"He certainly earned his money. Like all goalkeepers, they've got the odd mistake in them, whether they're on £200 a week or £50,000.

"They all make mistakes and when they do they're seen by everyone and they get punished.

"But Dean makes more saves than mistakes. That's for sure and when you've got a goalkeeper like that he's worth a lot to you. He's done very well today and I'm very proud of him."

Johnson says he knew his keeper hadn’t made contact with Wickham’s throw: "I knew it hadn't touched anyway, but I didn't know if the referee knew that.

"I don't know who ended up making the decision, to be honest, but we think it was the right decision."

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