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.”

Photo: Action Images

MaySixth added 06:36 - Nov 9 Yes Scott, you 'showed us what you can do' at Palace going walkabout for the first goal
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ipswichjon added 06:44 - Nov 9 "Yes Scott"? Do you mean Stephen?
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planetblue_2011 added 06:54 - Nov 9 Not sure who should be in goal but I would take another 1.0 on sat. Hopefully the players have forgotten about the 5.0. We can do it Reo - Coker gets his 1st goal. COYB !!
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floridaboy added 07:02 - Nov 9 Surely MM has to make changes for tomorrow. Smith at left back with Cresswell left midfield is a must. Cresswell has been awful so far this season as a defender plus Smith gives the defence a bit more height. N'Daw has to come back but who partners him in central midfield is anyones guess Chambers right back with Mohsni alongside Higginbotham. MM has lots of issues to sort out. Wish him luck!

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Dolly2.0 added 07:36 - Nov 9 floridaboy, have you ever seen Smith at left back? Let's just say I'm glad you're not the manager!
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coyb99 added 07:38 - Nov 9 Henderson is a good gk, but in my opinion loach is just better than him.
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Dissboyitfc added 07:46 - Nov 9 coyb99....agreed and he is ours...Scott has a great professional attitufde.......coyb
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TheHighwayman added 07:49 - Nov 9 Goalkeeping behind this so-called defence is a thankless task. As Stockdale discovered. Loach or Henderson? Who cares?
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howdonblue added 08:26 - Nov 9 White cares well I care loach has hardly done any wrong imo .. And Henderson states he's happy to be a hammer .. BRING BACK SCOTTY LOACH HE'S A BLUE . FECK OFF BACK TO WET SPAM HENDERSON ..
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howdonblue added 08:27 - Nov 9 And I meant who cares before anyone says it
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Blue_Armee added 08:27 - Nov 9 Top professional and better than you.
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ericclacton added 08:35 - Nov 9 All the goals we are leaking they should both be in goal.
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gazmangaz added 08:59 - Nov 9 If i was Scott Loach I would be relieved to be on the bench until this shambolic defence is sorted out. Henderson could go back to the hammers with his confidence and reputation shot to bits !
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pazelle added 10:09 - Nov 9 Does this guy ever shut up?
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JewellintheTown added 10:13 - Nov 9 Still not understanding comments about putting Loach in goal because he's a "true blue supporter". I'm a true blue supporter but I'd sooner have Buffon in goal who isnt than me! Isnt it the best professional for the job (I do agree Henderson might not be any better though)?
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lowtit added 10:22 - Nov 9 get mad boy moshni on the pitch from the off on saturday mick!
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Michael11 added 10:34 - Nov 9 Just go Henderson, can't be bothered with reading how much players want to be first choice at another club anymore! At least Loach wants to be here!
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StowTractorBoy added 11:15 - Nov 9 Loach ALB Henderson none of them are good enough for Ipswich Town. Loach just gets the sympathy vote because he loves Ipswich. We need a new goalkeeper in the tranfer window full stop because it is a crucial position in the state we are in. For those saying Loach is a top class keeepr you obviously have seen very few games. He never comes for crosses and is very weak on his right side. Time for Malcom Webster to earn his money as can't see where he had made any improvement with any of our goalkeepers. I wonder if the Henderson loan stipulates he must be playing in the team as he is rather fortunate to still be between the sticks.

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SamWhiteUK added 11:31 - Nov 9 I'm not a fan of Henderson at all, would much rather see Loachy between the sticks and feel he was unnecessarily replaced. Henderson I think has a bad attitude, almost as if he seems to be expecting to play, and these comments about wanting to be West Ham number one in the future are all well and good, but I think at the moment he should be more concerned about the game on Saturday and the scoreline from Tuesday and continuing to get picked rather than the distant future. After watching Henderson ship 5 on Tuesday, I reckon Loach must be laughing.

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NoelTheDub added 11:48 - Nov 9 With the 10 players we have in front of them i dont think it matters whos in goal.
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R_LAMB3 added 12:29 - Nov 9 Mick will chop and change the keepers till january and then sign his own. A keeper is as good as the defence in front of him and we dont seem to have one at the moment and you cant always blame the keeper. McCarthy must look at all the average players he has and think who the hell can i pick to play for me and who are going to try and who are not going to try and who can i trust and who can i not trust. We will just have to plod on till january and Mick will get rid of most of them if not all of them and then build his own team. Lets hope we get some points till then and dont give ourselves a to bigger mountain to climb. Mick will make ipswich a good team again so till then lets get behind them and cheer them on. THE GOOD TIMES START IN JANUARY.

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RRanger added 12:49 - Nov 9 Henderson was outstanding against Birmingham - we wouldn't have won the game without him. Those that are calling him ordinary.cr*p etc obviously weren't there. No goalie is wonderful every game but as far as I'm concerned Henderson is the best we've had since Begovic (who was also a loanee) and is now Stoke City's first choice keeper. I would love to see Loach regain the form he obviously had when he was picked for England U21s but I have to say he hasn't impressed me much so far.

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MVBlue added 13:27 - Nov 9 Ipswich player makes comment on other Ipswich players professionalism story. Seen this a few times recently...................................................................
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DiamondGezzer added 13:43 - Nov 9 One good game in five is good, is it Stephan ?
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R_LAMB3 added 15:39 - Nov 9 How many goals has henderson got to let in before they give young loach a chance to redeme himself. He had one bad game and he was dropped. Henderson turned us down at the start of the season and when he could not get in his own teams goal he change his mind and come to us on loan. Out of the two i think loach want to play for us more
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