Town boss Paul Jewell says keeper Scott Loach has been taken out of the firing line following a drop in form. The Blues manager signed Stephen Henderson on a three-month loan from West Ham earlier this week and the Irishman is set to make his Town debut at Hull on Saturday.
Jewell says even before the errors in the 2-1 defeat to Cardiff a fortnight ago, the summer signing from Watford had been under par: "I think Scott’s lost a little bit of confidence, not just against Cardiff, I think one or two goals have gone in and he’s not been at his best.
"So we just want to take him out of the firing line for a bit. He’ll come back strongly I’m sure.”
He says keepers should expect the same treatment as outfield players if their performances aren’t up to scratch: "Goalkeepers like to think they’re different to anybody else, but they’re not.
"If people are having a bad time or are not playing well, they get left out. Goalkeepers are no different.
"I don’t see the big deal in it. Scott’s a young lad, he’s had ups and downs before. He’s got to take it on the chin like everybody else.
"I haven’t had a chat with him, but I think he knows that he hasn’t been at his best lately and we’ve brought somebody else in to push him along.
"Equally, anyone who comes in, if they don’t do well, their place will come under scrutiny. No one’s guaranteed a place, whether that’s a loan player or a player that is permanent.”
Regarding Henderson, Jewell says widespread reports in January which claimed that the former Pompey man had turned down personal terms with Town after the clubs agreed a deadline day fee, were incorrect: "We made an offer for three players at Portsmouth and it was rejected.
"I spoke to the lad Joel Ward, I had him here, but other than that we never got to speak to Jason Pearce or Stephen Henderson.”