Boss Mick McCarthy says he’s been delighted with keeper Dean Gerken’s form since he came into the side at the end of August. The 28-year-old, who joined the Blues in the summer following a trial after his release by Bristol City, has now made 16 consecutive league appearances and has been the man of the match in the last two games.

McCarthy, who said Gerken’s display at Forest on Saturday was a “point-winning performance”, feels the former Colchester keeper has shown that his confidence in him was warranted.

“He’s deserved that faith,” the Town boss said. “I also believe I gave that to Loachy as well when it was the right time to do it.

“And he might have been slightly unlucky [to lose his place] but we’d lost four out of five and I needed to change it.”

McCarthy says he has never considered dropping Gerken, even after an error which led to Wigan’s late second goal in the Blues’ 2-0 defeat at the DW Stadium in September.

“Gerks has been excellent since he came in,” he added. “We know he had the one at Wigan when everybody was asking whether I was going to leave him out because he’d made a mistake. Not a chance because he’s played well.

“There’s a real difference with goalkeepers. You might make a mistake and it ends up in the back of your net, but if you’re doing everything else well - kicking, coming for crosses, organising, doing all that - you’ve got to look beyond that one mistake. You can’t be dropping them for one mistake.”

Meanwhile, Town’s U21s will be in action away against Crystal Palace this afternoon at Tooting and Mitcham United’s KNK Stadium (KO 1pm).

Photo: Action Images

Len_Brennan added 06:35 - Dec 16 Gerken is a decent keeper, as is Loach, at Championship level. I'm still not convinced that either of them are good enough to help us make the playoffs however. There are too many mistakes & uncertainties in them, in my opinion, that over the course of the season will cost us the vital points to make it into the top 6. It is very unlikely that a new keeper is on the shopping list for January, but I believe that someone with just that extra bit of quality & consistency is a must next summer if we are to make a serious attempt at promotion. Gerken would be an excellent number two, while Loach should be let go I'm afraid.

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ArnieM added 07:07 - Dec 16 I agree with all of your comments and have been saying the same for some time now. A GK Id like to see us get is Henderson.
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FrimleyBlue added 07:37 - Dec 16 So. Is that Gerkin dropped for Watford then
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bluemikey100 added 07:51 - Dec 16 the whole team have become hard to beat starts from the goalie right thru the team weve only lost against the top 5 teams and wigan good chance play offs look where derby are now
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SouperJim added 08:24 - Dec 16 My take on the two of them is Loach has the potential to be the better keeper, but Gerks is the more consistent and dependable of the two. I remember Gerks playing out of his skin for Brizzle at Portman Road a few years back, not a dissimilar performance to the one he gave yesterday. He clearly has ability so I'm not sure why he still has his doubters. Keepers are not like outfield players, mistakes are usually punished in the worse way possible. I think some of you expect too much.

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dford7 added 09:39 - Dec 16 I agree with Souper Jim. Gerks makes me feel slightly more relaxed, ie he is more consistent. He makes mistakes occasionally but less that Loach. I don't think we need another keeper. He is good enough for the moment.
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King_of_Portman_Rd added 09:42 - Dec 16 Good management from Mick, giving his keeper a boost in confidence. However, Gerks seems to only ever be 90 minutes away from making a mistake and though he plays some absolute blinders, can be partially (& fully) blamed for a number of goals this season. Decent keeper at this level but not consistent enough to be considered as anything more
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planetblue_2011 added 09:42 - Dec 16 Come on Len & ArnieM give Gerks some credit he's played very well recently and if he keeps it up he'll be a great no1 keeper. Don't know why people think Henderson is so special he's got mistakes in him, plus he's keeping the bench warm at Westham. I think at the back we look more of a solid unit now, mid is good maybe a few more goals from certain players. Strikers very good at this level get E banks Blake we should make top 6!!! Actually we can make top 6!!! COYB

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Jimmy86 added 10:53 - Dec 16 Gerken has done well just lately and is fully deserving of the number 1 shirt at the moment, but lets be honest, at times loach has not been given a fair crack of the whip. Last season when henderson went back after his second spell loach earnt the right to start the season as our number 1 keeper!!! Loach could and possibly should control his area a bit better, but he is still a good keeper at this level and has been dropped rather harshly at times in my opinion by both jewell and mick. Certainly wont have done anything for his confidence. Loach doesnt come off his line enough, whereas at times, wigan and blackburn for example, comes off his line too much, so needs a balance of the 2. Good work deano, keep it up

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Marshalls_Mullet added 12:22 - Dec 16 Brennan - I couldn't care less about the play offs this season, would just be a nice bonus?
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Thetfordtractor added 12:24 - Dec 16 Bring back Clive Baker!
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yorksblue added 13:00 - Dec 16 Clive Baker eh. Remember him taking on Arsenal at Highbury one Boxing Day on his own and us getting a 0-0 draw. One of the best displays I've seen by a town keeper.
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Jackie added 13:16 - Dec 16 Forget everyone else's comments. It's the beard. He has to keep the beard.
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Len_Brennan added 15:38 - Dec 16 Souper Jim: I completely agree with your assessment of the 2 keepers - they have strenghts & weaknesses and I am acknowledging that they are both reasonable keepers for a lower to mid table Championship team. I also think the Gerken has been very good in our recent games. My view was towards next season & beyond, when hopefully we will continue to improve up the table & be genuine promotion contenders. For that to happen, we will need to strenghten in a number of positions & for me, goalkeeper is a fundamental one. I like Gerken, but I don't see him being considered for the number 1 shirt in a Championship team of the season. PlanetBlue 2011: You are right, Gerken certainly does deserve credit, he has come in as a number 2 keeper and has taken his chance with some really decent performances. For me he is definitely our best option at the moment & I hope he keeps playing as well until the end of the season & beyond. Marshalls_Mullett: Addressing me by my surname only was a bit rude of you. Mind your manners.

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jas0999 added 17:21 - Dec 16 Loach and Gerken are good shop stoppers. However, in my opinion, Gerken has more control / command of his area and also leaves his line. Something I haven't seen Loach do. Therefore Gerken edges it for me. Whether he is good enough if we want to challenge te top six ... Time will tell. Mick clearly doesn't rate loach.
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blueboy1981 added 17:43 - Dec 16 ...... all he needs is a GOOD COACH - do we now have this to the standard he requires ??
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theobald1985 added 17:52 - Dec 16 King_of_Portman_Rd Gerkin has big points costing errors in him and has made some bad errors-errors similar to the ones loach made that got him dropped. Mick clearly just dosent like Loach and gerkin is not good enough so we need a proper number one. I would play loach ahead of gerkin-i think gerkin is a great shot stopper but I saw him at colchester the season they went down and he has not improved that much since then. will support him while he is playing but the scout should be tasked with finding some GK targets

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ArnieM added 20:51 - Dec 16 tbh there's not much to choose between either Loach or Gerkin. They are very similar in attributes. Which was the point made by he original poster to this article! The overall point trying to be made, is that whilst these two players are good GK's they are basically average. If we are serious about getting promoted it often is built around a very solid back four AND an above average GK between the sticks. At the moment Gerkin is playing well, as has Loach in the past. But they are both prone to making basic (unforced) errors which have cost us silly points. An above average GK is less likely to do this and therefore minimize points being lost. The margins in this division are / will be , fine. The team that minimizes silly points lost will be the one (s) in the top six come May.

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Warkys_Tash added 21:32 - Dec 16 Gerk's is a very good shot stopper & comes & collects crosses very well. However, his decision making - rushing or not rushing off his line in potential one vs one situations - and kicking, do not always fill me with confidence.
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