Gerken hailed after masterclass

28 February 2010 11:24
The keeper made a succession of vital saves as the Robins claimed a point which sees them unbeaten in three games although they have still only won twice in 13 league games.[LNB]They had a reprieve at Portman Road in injury-time when Connor Wickham's long throw sailed everyone into the net and was promptly disallowed because no-one had got a touch to the ball.[LNB]Defeat would have been tough on Gerken who excelled, particularly in the second half as the game exploded into life.[LNB]Johnson said: "Our goalkeeper was the difference today.[LNB]"In the second half he came into his own and had to make three or four magnificent saves, maybe four or five.[LNB]"He certainly earned his money.[LNB]"Like all goalkeepers, they've got the odd mistake in them, whether they're on £200 a week or £50,000.[LNB]"They all make mistakes and when they do they're seen by everyone and they get punished.[LNB]"But Dean makes more saves than mistakes.[LNB]"That's for sure and when you've got a goalkeeper like that he's worth a lot to you.[LNB]"He's done very well today and I'm very proud of him."[LNB]Gerken was the undisputed man of the match as the game crackled into life after the break.[LNB]He blocked a close-range drive from Jon Walters, who robbed defender Bradley Orr, and dived to clutch a glancing header by David Norris.[LNB]Incredibly, Gerken then parried Daryl Murphy's well-worked effort, clawed away a near-post header from Gareth McAuley and turned away a long-ranger by Walters.[LNB]Sandwiched in between his catalogue of saves, Jack Colback's flicked effort with the outside of his boot struck the Robins post.[LNB]City's best effort was a Chris Iwelumo header from inside the six-yard box that clattered the Ipswich bar.[LNB]Town boss Roy Keane was equally praiseworthy of Gerken.[LNB]"He was brilliant and sometimes you have to praise the opposition," he said.[LNB]"We can talk about our misses but in the two games we've played against them, their keeper's been brilliant and the difference between us having two points and six.[LNB]"It was a frustrating second half because we were outstanding.[LNB]"We were on the front foot, dominated and had chance after chance but their keeper had one of those days and it didn't look like we were ever going to score.[LNB]"We were making things happen, whereas in the first half we were waiting for things to happen.[LNB]"I was glad to see the back of the first half, because we never got going.[LNB]"Talk about two different halves. It was unbelievable.[LNB]"We've got to be careful not to turn up and expect things to happen. We've got to make them happen.[LNB]"In the second half the players were committed, taking people on, taking risks and we were a bit braver.[LNB]"But we have to start at 3pm.[LNB]"We never got going in the first half and I was very pleased to get the players in at half-time. The players weren't but I was."[LNB]Keane felt his side should have been "cuter" and that one of his players should have celebrated the 'goal' that was disallowed in the closing seconds.[LNB]However, Johnson said: "I knew it hadn't touched anyway but I didn't know if the referee knew that.[LNB]"I don't know who ended up making the decision, to be honest, but we think it was the right decision."[LNB][LNB]

Source: Team_Talk