Manager Mick McCarthy was delighted to see his decision to keep faith with Dean Gerken pay off with the Blues keeper making a vital save just before half-time during Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Sheffield Wednesday. The former Colchester man, who conceded four at Derby last Tuesday, blocked from Matty Fryatt with the on-loan Hull City man through on goal and appearing certain to put the Owls in front.
"Fabulous, wasn’t it?” said McCarthy, who named the same starting XI for the fourth game running.
"I love that about goalkeepers, they’re doing it with Joe Hart at the minute. Keepers make a rick and everybody wants to get them out and Hart’s the best keeper of them all.
"And Deano has come in and been terrific for us and I can’t fault him for any of the goals on Tuesday night.
"But there were people asking if I was going to change the keeper but there wasn’t a chance because he’s been great and he made a fabulous save. And that’s what you get for putting faith in people.
"It was the same team, we drew four-all and I bet everyone was wondering whether we’d make changes, but no. They’ve been great, have a bit of faith in them and they’ll repay you.”
The Town boss wouldn’t go into too detailed a review of his team’s overall performance so far this season as they go into another international break, other than to say that he is pleased with them.
"I don’t publicly [assess them],” he said. "I’m not one for washing my clothes [in public], but I do with the lads. I’m delighted with the players I’ve got and the effort they’ve put in, and we’re doing all right, we’re doing OK.”
McCarthy says he’s happy enough with Town gaining draws on their travels, with the Blues having won all but one of their home matches so far this season, but believes a first away win of the campaign will come sooner rather than later.
"It’s a nice recipe. Everybody keeps saying ‘When are you going to get away from home?’. Well, if we keep playing like that we’ll get a win away from home, keep playing like we did at Derby and Wigan and QPR.
"I’m not going to change it, we’ve been different class, maybe we haven’t got the points we’ve deserved but I’m not going to stop doing it the way we’re doing it.”
The Town manager had praise for Championship Player of the Month David McGoldrick’s role in Paul Anderson’s goal, but feels his Wednesday opposite number will have been asking questions regarding the whereabouts of his defence.
"I think Dave Jones might be looking at the fact that they haven’t got a defender in their half,” he said. "But it was good work.
"Dids was great, he’s had a terrific season. I’m glad we’ve got a break now because they’ve had to work really hard.
"I’ve got the 18 players, I’ve got Alan Lee and Jordan Adekunle, but the reality is that there’s a squad of 18 and they’ve been terrific again, so they need a break.”
While Elliott Hewitt will be away with the Wales U21s and Tommy Smith with New Zealand for a training camp in the US and a friendly in Trinidad and Tobago, McCarthy plans to give the rest of the squad some time off.
"They’ll get three or four days off like we did the last time, they’ll certainly get next weekend off, no question," he said.
"They’ve earned it, they’ll need to put their feet up and rest because they’ll be going again when they come back.”