Stephen Henderson has hailed Scott Loach’s professionalism since replacing him as Ipswich’s first-choice goalkeeper.
New boss Mick McCarthy plumped for the on-loan West Ham man for Saturday’s 1-0 win at Birmingham and Tuesday’s defeat at Crystal Palace, leaving Loach on the bench for the fifth game in a row.
But Henderson has nothing but praise for the ex-Watford keeper, who cost £150,000 when former boss Paul Jewell signed him from the Hornets in August.
He said: "It must have been hard for Scott but he has been absolutely brilliant with me. We have a great relationship, along with Arran [Lee-Barrett] as well, and we talk after games.
"If he gets in the side it will be the same for him but at the minute I’m in and he’s doing his best to help me. He’s a top Championship goalie. I’ve played against him a few times and on his day he’s one of the best at this level.
"One slip-up by me and he’s going to be breathing down my neck, but that’s what I want because I don’t want to be taking stuff for granted. I just want to keep going and stay in the team.
"The gaffer could have gone for Scott at Birmingham, but I think it would have been a bit harsh. I’ve only been here two weeks and I’d have felt a bit hard done by considering it’s a team game and it’s not all down to me.
"We haven’t defended great at times and it would have been harsh but having said that I’d have completely understood if he had gone for Scott. But he gave me the nod and hopefully I showed him what I can do.”
It has been an eventful start to life at Portman Road for Henderson, who suffered three straight defeats, saw the departed Jewell replaced by Mick McCarthy last week and then conceded five goals at Palace on Tuesday, despite saving one of three penalties. Saturday’s hard-earned success at Birmingham temporarily put a smile on his and his temporary colleagues’ faces. Henderson added: "It was a huge result. It hasn’t been going our way recently and at one point I thought we might throw it away with the chances they had near the end. But we managed to hang on and defended really well so I’m absolutely chuffed. "It’s been difficult since I came to the club. We haven’t performed well, me included, because I haven’t been up to the standard I have set for myself, but hopefully that’s just the first of many wins. "I’m not going to make excuses for my own form. I wasn’t good enough in the home games I played. The game at Hull went okay for me personally but my displays in the defeats at home by Derby and Sheffield Wednesday weren’t good enough. I hope I showed on Saturday what I can do.”What to read next:
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