Boss Mick McCarthy says he made an early decision to make five changes for Saturday’s game at Birmingham, which ended in a 1-1 draw which greatly flattered the home side.

The Town manager was pleased with the way those changes worked out, despite his team failing to pick up what would have been only their second away win during 2013: “I was delighted.

“I have got 20 players, 18 outfield and two keepers, and I decided early on in the week that if I’m sat here and we’ve lost and I haven’t done anything to change it, then that would be a mistake.

“And, of course, that’s the manager’s lot, if I make the changes and we get slapped, then they’d all be saying, ‘Why the hell did you make all those changes’ and that it was wrong.

“But I was delighted with them. They’ve all contributed before, Tunners has come on, Ando’s come on, Frank’s come on and played and I was delighted with Dean Gerken, not that he had many to save. He had one and he saved that from the corner kick.”

Regarding goalscorer Christophe Berra, he added: “Berra’s excellent, he’s been terrific, he’s a really good defender and I was delighted to get him in on a free transfer.

“He did great for me at Wolves, he got us promoted and kept us in the Premier League for two years and I think would probably have kept us there for a third season as well.”

He says the decision to drop keeper Scott Loach wasn’t a difficult one: “No, I don’t do difficult. I keep saying I’ve got 20 players.

“As I said earlier in the week, if we’ve lost three out of four league games, that’s 75 per cent of the games, which sounds a horrible stat, if I don’t do something when he’s been at fault for goals I’d be barmy.

“And Gerks would be sat there thinking, ‘Hold on a minute, we’ve only got 20 players, when do I get a chance? When do I get to play?’.

So, no, it wasn’t difficult, I made my decision very early on that one, on all of them.”

Photo: Action Images

battyblue added 07:27 - Sep 2 Wordsworth is sitting there thinking i have been working my butt off and i have just got on the bench we only have 20 players some have been playing crap when do i get a chance to prove i can be an important player for town Mick
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flashblue added 07:54 - Sep 2 Two home wins and it all looks better
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jas0999 added 07:59 - Sep 2 On the whole the changes were okay. Gerken looked better than Loach; whilst the midfield had more balance. Murphy has had chances and missed them - so no surprise there; whether Nouble was the right replacement ... time will tell with him. Hewitt was perhaps unfortunate.
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BotesdaleBlue added 08:29 - Sep 2 I think Mick's comments send out the strongest indication yet that Loach is unlikely to hold down the number one spot. It's a shame, although I suspect the majority of fans have doubts over his command of the box and overall ability to be a strong number one. Perhaps its a confidence thing, but at any rate, I think we are now going to find out what Gerken is all about in the next match or two.

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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 08:52 - Sep 2 Maybe keep the back four from Brum match and play Hewitt in place of either Anderson or Edwards? Just a thought.
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oldelsworthyfan added 08:52 - Sep 2 It's hard to understand why Wordsworth hasn't had 20 minutes. Surely he's fit enough for that....or am I missing something?
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theobald1985 added 08:53 - Sep 2 dont think the changes made much differance. what we needed was more width and attacking intent. the team who played at leeds would have proberbly got the same result. Loach to my mind should be our number one- gurkin will come in do ok then concede a few make the odd mistake and them what? drop him stick loach in and go on like that dropping them each time they make a mistake and replacing them with the other. I watch col u sometimes when town away and believe me I have seen enough of DG to known that he has issues with crosses and lapses of concentration-he is ok but Loach really should not have been dropped and I fear loach may be the next victim of the fans amoungst us who need somebody to blame and pick on. I would have removed tabb and edwards and brought in wordsworth and taylor out wide and left the rest as it was. Having said all that I think whoever plays we have the potential to get 4 points from the next 2 games and will get behind whoever mick picks COYB

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sheepdags added 13:05 - Sep 2 Need more creativity in midfield - give Wordsworth a chance please Mick.
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Philip added 16:27 - Sep 2 Considering Woody's creativity and that he got a goal in his first few games last season he is surely worth getting on the pitch!
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