Town keeper Dean Gerken has hailed the impact of midfielder Anthony Wordsworth, who impressed in the Blues’ back-back-victories against fellow play-off contenders Brighton and Derby, his first league starts of the campaign.

The pair go back a long way, to their time together at Colchester United, and Wordsworth’s impressive displays standing in for the injured Cole Skuse are no surprise to Gerken.

He said: “It was a big loss being without Cole but I’ve known for years what Woody is capable of doing.

"I never doubted that he could come in and do a job. He got the opportunity, grabbed it and I’m over the moon for him.

“He’s got everything going for him — he’s tall, athletic, he’s great on the ball and he’s got that laid-back way where he doesn’t seem to get flustered, a bit like Cole really. You need that in the team and Woody did a great job filling in for Cole.”

Wordsworth has a reputation for his set-piece delivery but Gerken revealed he keeps as far away as possible from him in training when freekicks are on the agenda.

He added: “I don’t bother with all that. I don’t want any banter from him if he starts scoring against me. He’s a good footballer, great at set-pieces and a real asset to the team.”

Photo: Action Images

warktheline added 06:41 - Mar 27 A big plus for me, Wordsworth. I think there is more to come from him, just needs to steer clear of injury.
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wkj added 06:48 - Mar 27 I've always liked him and just felt he lacked a bit of polish... but the last 2 games I think he can be called Mr Sheen!!
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village_blue added 07:02 - Mar 27 Delighted for Woody that he's finally got into the team and I'm hoping he stays there Saturday even if Skuse is fit.
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GerkensBeard added 07:22 - Mar 27 Delighted for Woody and the team that he has started the last two games and not Green or Tabb. I would love to see Woody and Skuse in the midfield on Saturday but I can't see him dropping Hyam somehow. Unlike Skuse and Hyam he was willing to collect the ball from the back 4 and looking to spread the play/ start attacks at every opportunity. Quality player on the ball and hopefully MM will see the impact he has made and also done the dirty work that MM requires from him.

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SouperJim added 07:39 - Mar 27 I think he's benefitted hugely from having Joniesta in the team as he's not been the only forward thinking midfield player. As a result he's had a little more time on the ball and more options when he does have it. If we could just get a bit more out of the wide men we might finally have a midfield that can compete. This is the only significant difference between us and the sides above us, for much of this season our midfield has offered very little on the ball.

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DanLyles added 07:49 - Mar 27 @GerkensBeard, I totally agree. Skuse and Wordsworth would be a great partnership. The latter was really getting stuck in against Derby but then added a touch of class with his passing. With Williams in such great form it is imperative that we have two good passers in behind him to find him and this is where these two should get the nod over Hyam, Tabb and Green. I also like the idea of a left footed and right footed player in the middle together.

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mow_the_lawn added 08:37 - Mar 27 I wonder how our results would have been different had Wordsworth been in from the start of the season instead of Tunnicliffe. He works well with Hyam, it'll be interesting to see what happens when Skuse is fit. Ideally it would be nice to see Wordsworth Skuse and Williams together, but I think if you play Williams you need Hyam to win the ball back with his energy as Williams has a tendency for wayward passes when trying too much.

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alfromcol added 08:51 - Mar 27 If Skuse come back in on Saturday, it has to be Hyam that drops to the bench, his distribution was poor against Derby. Needs to improve that area of the game. One area that continues to annoy me, is why do we keep taking throw-ins in our own half to players standing square and putting them under pressure. Throwing the ball down the line and making ground out of our own half is always a safer and more effective option.

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oldelsworthyfan added 09:54 - Mar 27 From previous posts it's no secret that I've been a fan of Wordsworth's potential from the day he arrived. Let's hope he stays clear of injury because I can see the time coming when his name could be the first one MM puts on the team sheet. His last two performances have been a revelation and long time coming, but worth the wait. Skuse and Wordsworth behind Jones and Murphy is something to look forward to. Better still if it could last for the rest of the season. The team that hits form in the last 10 games of the season is often the one that wins the play offs. We can but dream!

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Gipeswic added 10:10 - Mar 27 I'm a fan of Wordsworth, but his style appears too laid-back for his own good. Neat and tidy against Derby, kept the ball moving forward, and made himself available even in tight situations. Williams compliments his style of play.
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gazzmac4 added 10:22 - Mar 27 Ive always been a fan of Woody and i like the sort of player he is. A bit Cresswell in the sense that we took a punt on a young bloke from a lower league, paid relatively little for him and now he is coming good. Would think after his last two performance that he will keep his place but would really like Skuse to come back in because he has been an excellent acquisition. So i would say Hyam may drop to the bench but knowing MM i would suggest we stick with the same starting 11 if we can. Don't change a winning formula and all that jazz! A midfield of Skuse, Woody and then Williams/DMcG when he is back year could be the way forward. Pick up some pacey wingers for out wide then that would be an excellent spine of a team for the future for me! I dont want to get ahead of myself, but imagine that we win on saturday! 9 points from games against Brighton, Derby and Forest would literally be fantastic at this time of the season. I would have taken 4-6 from this week so to get 9. Ridiculous. COYB's!!

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Simonds92 added 10:46 - Mar 27 Completely agree with Alfromcol there. As much as it's nice to have a local lad in the team Hyam's distribution really needs to improve, the attack loses impetus when he gets the ball. The square ball doesn't just come from throw ins either though, time and time again (considering most attacks start from looking for Murphy and winning the second ball) we try to be too cute at the back, the ball ends up passed out to chambers who already has somebody on him, he was put under a lot of unnecessary pressure particularly the first half on Tuesday. Especially with Williams coming to pick up the ball we've now got a bit more of an option to play better football.

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Lightningboy added 10:55 - Mar 27 Great that he's finally been given a chance. I'm all for a bit of steel at the back with a holding midfielder but we also need some flair & imagination in the side..Woody & Williams have provided that..let's hope Mick gives Woody a decent run in the side & doesn't revert to type if he has the odd poor game here and there.
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Jimmy86 added 11:02 - Mar 27 I have been dismayed as to why woody has not featured more than he has. He is a player that mick signed and so obviously knew what he was getting having watched him a few times whilst at colchester. He initially made an impact before getting a nasty injury that he did well to come back from as early as he did. He has seemed to pick up niggling injuries whicj is unfortunate, but he is more forward thinking than hyam, tabb and green and to a certain extent skuse, however skuse is more capable of moving the ball around well. Id say play skuse and woody in midfield and if anyone has to drop out for me it would be hyam. Local lad aside he is limited as a midfielder

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Surco72 added 11:02 - Mar 27 Been saying it all season playing 4 defensive central midfielders has cost us points , Skuse and Hyam too similar with little creativity add Tabb , Tunners and Greennti that and it is very average . Last 4 games with Williams , wingers and Woody has only highlighted it more . Question is would MM have changed if not forced to by injury ?
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bluemagic74 added 12:08 - Mar 27 Nice one woody 4 coming in and playing so well its like having a new signing I always new you were a good player
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TimmyH added 16:08 - Mar 27 I'm not a season ticket holder but saw him play (I think he came on second half) against Hull last season and was reasonably impressed by him, he got a few passing movements going with the odd little trick so not overly surprised he's done ok last 2 matches, I think a few on here don't rate him but how can that assumption be made when he's hardly had any run of matches mainly due to injury/fitness.

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blueboy1981 added 17:42 - Mar 27 .......... always said it - Wordsworth is a class act - all he needed was games to prove it.
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blueboy1981 added 17:45 - Mar 27 ...... Hyam STILL looks to make that sideways / backward pass - almost without exception. Not sure he will ever be 'attack minded'.
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