Town boss Mick McCarthy has confirmed that Dean Gerken will keep his place in goal at Leeds United on Tuesday, while striker Freddie Sears is a doubt with a tight hamstring.

Quizzed on whether he would switch Gerken for Bartosz Bialkowski following Friday’s 5-1 defeat at Reading, McCarthy confirmed: “Gerks will be playing. I think when you’ve conceded eight goals in two games, and I’ve said this to them, all positions are under threat.

“But I don’t believe in knee-jerk reactions because if you do that and somebody comes in and they don’t play well, you’ve not got a lot of room to manoeuvre then, have you? You’ve got to go back to Plan A.

“So, if Plan A’s all right and it’s worked for a long period of time, then keep with it. I’m not one that changes people for the sake it because each and every one of them was hurting just as much as I was, were just as embarrassed as I was about the other night.

“And it’s even worse for them, they were on the field. I’ve been there, I’ve been a player, but none of them let me down or let the club down intentionally, it was just a bad day in the office and we all have them.”

The Blues boss says Sears is the only injury concern following Friday’s game: “Freddie’s got a tight hamstring, we’ll just have to wait and see how he is. He’s the only one.

“But, of course, Teddy and Kevin Bru are playing in the U21s [at Birmingham] today, as is Tommy Oar. But all the others are fine.

“Freddie’s been exceptional, I’d be desperate to have him in the squad but what I won’t do is risk him.

“We had a bad day in the office on Friday, although I thought he was excellent again, but we’ve plenty of games left so I wouldn’t risk him at all.”

McCarthy confirmed that Daryl Murphy, a sub at the Madejski Stadium, is fit enough to start having been out with a calf injury.

Photo: Action Images

nhabo added 16:02 - Sep 14 Will never understand those who question a manager who has brought this club back from huge underachievement to what you should consider overachievement with the resources available. I think MM can take some blame for a very attacking team away to Reading but a few players let him and us down on the night. If recent history is anything to go by, they'll make up for it. On Gerken, he isn't the best keeper in the division but there's no reason to scapegoat him in a game when the team defend as badly as they did on Friday night. This sounds like a 'get behind the team' post but a couple of poor results doesn't merit some of these posts in my opinion. Come back when it's a regular occurrence and it's fair comment.

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whosroundisitanyway added 16:03 - Sep 14 Alfie. What's it all about?
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dav86 added 16:03 - Sep 14 I'd play Bart because he's a better keeper.
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warktheline added 16:05 - Sep 14 Obviously reading the article suggests McCarthy isn't going to make 'wholesale' changes, but until we see the team sheet it's impossible to assume who will, or won't play. BUT i won't be holding out much hope in regards to back four changes, McCarthy told us last season to FOXTROT OSCAR in reference to defensive issues! We live in hope, one and all... Maybe not all !!!!

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dalianwasexciting added 16:10 - Sep 14 I give up
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rkl added 16:11 - Sep 14 Can't believe what I'm reading. Gerken is plan A?
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Super_Cooper added 16:13 - Sep 14 After last Friday's performance, Gerkin, Chambers, Douglas should be dropped. Sears and McGoldrick were the only one's really trying. But what do I know...
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Geoff added 16:20 - Sep 14 Why is MM so stubborn plan B must be Tabb.
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runningout added 16:21 - Sep 14 is this a joke Mr McCarthy.....
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carsey added 16:22 - Sep 14 Alfie I've supported this club for over 40 years and paid for the privilege. It's my home town and to suggest I should bog off elsewhere is plain crazy it doesn't work like that as I'm sure you know. Fact is Gerkin isn't good enough and frankly Bart isn't much better. I will always support and encourage whoever is on the pitch at any given time but it doesn't stop me having an opinion about whether they should be there. I was fortunate enough to be around when Sir Bobby was in charge so I like to think I have seen some good and great players. Not many of the current crop meet those heights certainly not Gerkin.

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Surco72 added 16:33 - Sep 14 MM did tell supporters to F.. Off last season when questioning the defence last Christmas and we went from top of the league to scraping into playoffs on goal difference and the only change we have made to that weak defence through two transfer windows is we have a weaker left back than last season , inspired . Praise where praise is due our attacking options have been significantly bettered ,but the defensive side which has been the issue for some time is as poor as ever in my opinion

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whosroundisitanyway added 16:39 - Sep 14 I think the issue here is, had Bart been dropped because of a poor run of form then Gerks would be entitled for his chance to impress. Similarly had Gerks played a blinder in the two games then it would be unfair to drop him. As neither was the case the form keeper should be selected if available and that's Bart. Don't think anyone could argue with that?
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sidtheswan added 16:47 - Sep 14 MM is stubborn . If we had all said keep Gerken in goal he would have picked Bart. He hasn't listened to anyone about playing a right back at right back since he got here so he's not going to start listening now . Don't understand his reasoning thought think he's lost it !
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ZurichBlue added 16:49 - Sep 14 Sorry, but this why so many Town fans get so frustrated with McCarthy. He's done a decent job in stabilising Town but his bizarre selection decisions and stubbornness cost us points last season and they are already costing us this season. Some won't like this and I'll get down arrows but I don't give a flying fig. He's improved our attacking options massively but defence is not balanced and Gerks is the biggest single weak link in our team. I sometimes despair with McCarthy at the helm, only because I believe he gets it wrong sometimes, something he'll never admit to, and because I'm sure we could do so much better with better team selections. But what the hell do I know, I'm only been playing and watching football for around 50 years - I'm no manager.

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Matthew_Crush added 16:50 - Sep 14 His OBVIOUSLY giving Gerken one more game to make up for it and hoping he puts in a hell of a performance to say he wants and can be part of this , , then if Tuesday is no good it will be Bart for the foreseeable future...
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gippeswyk added 16:55 - Sep 14 Gerken isn't good enough but lets be honest, Bart isn't good enough either if our team is to challenge this season. It's a lesser of 2 evils. That's why neither keeps the gloves for more than a few games at a time. It was the same last season and after getting £8m for Mings we still couldn't bring in a decent keeper. In fact, I struggle to think of the last time we played a team where their keeper was worse than ours. I would happily have swapped Gerken PLUS Bart for Stevenage's keeper, sadly.

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runningout added 17:01 - Sep 14 a bit concerned that our very false and fortunate start to the season is clouding the massive weakness in our squad... The two arrivals in defence will have their work cut out if loan market for CB isn't used :-/
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Westy added 17:02 - Sep 14 I cannot believe this. I agree that every team had a blip now and then, but there is no doubt that Bart is the best keeper. Against Brighton, Gerks looked very leaden footed times. I don't think we would have lost that game with Bart in goal. When Gerken is playing the defenders look very nervous as if they gave no faith in him and make mistakes themselves. Given the Team selection, I'm not expecting anything at Leeds. If I am wrong, no one will be more pleased than I.

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runningout added 17:03 - Sep 14 and Bart isn't a Number either
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runningout added 17:04 - Sep 14 meant Number 1
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chrisw2045 added 17:06 - Sep 14 We have won more games this season with Gerken in goal than we have with Bart in goal. Would we have beaten Brighton or Reading if Bart was in goal....No probably not.
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Bergholtblue added 17:07 - Sep 14 I can see Mick's point. If he makes wholesale changes and it all goes tits up tomorrow where does he go from there? But if that wasn't the game to say to Gerks "sorry lad you had your chance and blew it, Barts back in" then what was? I can only think that Bart is still not right. The trouble is our weaknesses were for all to see Friday night and you can bet Leeds will try to exploit them. He has got to pick a team that gives more cover for Chambers and Knudson. I expect one of the forwards to be sacrificed, probably Pitman and a more defensive minded midfielder drafted in. expect Jay Tabb to make an appearance.

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Gates2Reuser added 17:30 - Sep 14 I am a big supporter of Mick as he has guided us from the brink of relegation to a team capable of making the play off places. However, I feel he has got this one really wrong. If this backfires I wonder how things will develop for Mick?
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JimInGreensboro added 17:31 - Sep 14 "Knee-Gerk" reaction, actually. All Bart did wrong was go on bereavement. Plan "B' was fine when he was in goal; it's plan "G" that's not working, to the tune of those 8 goals.
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nysully added 17:32 - Sep 14 I love MM but he is one stubborn whore
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