Bristol City boss praises goalkeeper Gerken
Gary Johnson hailed Dean Gerken as Bristol City's saviour after watching his goalkeeper almost single-handedly keep Ipswich Town at bay.
Roy Keane's improving team had the better of Saturday's goalless Coca-Cola Championship encounter at Ashton Gate and would surely have taken all three points had it not been for Gerken's heroics.
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Bristol City goalkeeper Dean Gerken
But the former Colchester United stopper stood strong to prevent a second successive home defeat and earn City a point which keeps them within touching distance of the play-off positions.
And relieved manager Johnson admitted: "Our goalkeeper had to make more saves than theirs and Dean has kept us in it. We were too open defensively and thank goodness our keeper was in excellent form.
"He had a lot to do in difficult conditions and spilled one ball off a wet surface early in the game. But he didn't let it affect his confidence and he looked a very comfortable goalkeeper after that.
"He didn't make any mistakes and was there when he needed to be."
Gerken made an outstanding save to deny Ipswich substitute Pablo Counago in the closing stages and Johnson added: "He's made some good one-on-one saves and done his job. Dean definitely earned his corn."
City have taken just two points from their last five Championship outings and Johnson concedes lost confidence is becoming an issue.
"I think some of them have lost a bit of confidence and it's affecting them," said the manager.
"Some of them didn't play that well and some didn't produce the work-rate that I expect.
"We've two away games coming up against Leicester and Doncaster and we badly need a win to give the boys a lift."
Although City kept a clean sheet for the first time in eight games, Johnson maintained it was difficult to be satisfied with a 0-0 draw at home.
He said: "In the end, it's a point gained, but we're not happy with it. We can't be ecstatic about a clean sheet, because they had a lot of chances.
"We tried to go for the early goal and didn't get it and Ipswich came into the game. Although we've hit the post twice, we've not managed to get enough shots on target.
"There was a lot of attacking play up until the final third, but then you need someone to be strong enough and clever enough to score a goal."
He added: "Ipswich get a lot of draws, get men behind the ball and are a difficult side to play against.
"They came here with a game-plan, executed it well and it almost paid off for them. Sometimes you have to give the opposition credit."
Ivan Sproule was introduced as a second-half substitute and, according to Johnson, did enough to play himself into contention for a place in the starting line-up against Leicester City at the Walkers Stadium tomorrow night.
But Bristol City's manager is still sweating on the fitness of injured skipper Louis Carey, who missed Saturday's game because of a groin problem.
"He's opened up his groin and that is affecting an old problem in his lower back," added Johnson.
"We'll have to assess Louis's situation ahead of the Leicester game and then make a decision."
Fit-again right-back Bradley Orr returned to the bench at the weekend and could feature against Leicester.
21 Comments
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by Marcus, Wilts
Tuesday, December 08 2009, 8:49AM
“Realist...
My suggested team would set up in a 433 with Sno dropping in behind the top two. Then you would have Skuse and Hartley bossing the midfield with Haynes floating about on either side. Formations are not set in stone and if the players are given the license and shown a little bit of trust there is no reason why what I have suggested couldn't work.
Im confused why you would suggest the side is unbalanced? Haynes is not a striker- a natural finisher he is not!, if you've seen is numerous misses in good situations this season you'd realised this. So Id play him wide where his pace would be more benificial to the cause then playing Sno who could do far more damage centrally with his better quality.
Johnson started Saturday with **5 CENTRAL MIDFIELD PLAYERS** so for you to suggest my team is more unbalanced shows how bias to Johnson you are when all my player are in there strongest positions.”
by Andy, Yatton
Monday, December 07 2009, 7:16PM
“Getting fed up with saying the same old things every week to be honest, no width, no shape, players out of position.
GJ is a good manager and we have some good players but here we are in December and I still don't know what our best team is.”
by Phil, Bristol
Monday, December 07 2009, 5:45PM
“agree with Dazzy
Johnson Out.....the bloody lot of them!”
by Dazzy, Oxford
Monday, December 07 2009, 5:24PM
“Whoever voted for Sno as man of the match on saturday was watching a different game to me, I know he i playing out of position but I thought he was largely ineffective. We are probably paying him ten grand a week and he can't even kick the ball with his left foot!
As for Lee Johnson I thought he had a decent game again on saturday and was one of our better players. I think some people won't be happy until the Johnson's are out of this club!!”
by Fanjita, Ashton
Monday, December 07 2009, 5:07PM
“I know he's out on loan at the moment but Let's give John Akinde a chance, surely he's worth a go.
Anyone else agree?”
by Steve Coppell, Hopefully heading to Bristol City....
Monday, December 07 2009, 4:10PM
“Any manager worth his salt at this level would know that the time to blood Riberio was the run of half-dozen meaningless games at the end of last season after Gary Johnson's Bristol City lost at Notthingham Forest.
Myself and a number of other established Championship managers raised an bemused eyebrow when we heard that Gary chose to stick with the same players who failed to get him into the play-offs.
In addition, I have noticed that Gary has not developed a single youngster from Academy to genuine first team player during his tenure.
Gary might as well close the Academy at Bristol City, unless he is keeping it open for his Grandson?!?!”
by david, henbury
Monday, December 07 2009, 3:52PM
“If Garry had spent more time sorting out his strike force instead of running after Basso maybe Gerken wouldn't have been so much under pressure on Sat.Lee Johnson is the weakest link the fans know it, and were booing Gary when he took of Sno.Most of the comments agree,so Garry needs to put the Club first.”
by Realist, The Real World
Monday, December 07 2009, 3:50PM
“Marcus,
That team you provide is more unbalanced than one GJ could ever select!
Haynes playing left of a midfield three!?! Are you for real? So what you have effectively done is replace LJ with Haynes!
Or are you suggesting Skuse down the right, Haynes down the left and Sno and Hartley in the middle?!
I think your picking sides now which on purpose do not accomodate LJ.
Sproule Skuse Hartley ?
? to be filled by Sno until we get someone in Jan.”
by Marcus, Wilts
Monday, December 07 2009, 3:10PM
“jibbywib..
Who's to blame for our lack of width within the squad? Many fans said when he let McIndoe go he would need replacing ASAP-It took Gary 1/3 of a season realise the same thing.
Gary has assembled a squad of central midfield players so has to be blamed for the lack of options.
I know Rib is out on loan which is kind of my point! Why is he when we need a RB? You say he lacks experience which is true but then how does a young player gain Championship experience until he given matches? Thank god Johnson was not about when Lita broke through to the first team eh!
Its not difficult-
Gerken
Orr (Ribs)
Fonts
Carey or Nyatanga
McAliister (Needs replacing)
Skuse
Hartley
Haynes
Sno
Clarkson
Maynard
Id love to see this side. Sno the most advance midfielder with Skuse and Hartley doing the leg work with Haynes offering a bit of pace on the wings with Clarkson and Maynard up top.
Will we ever see this-Of course not because boy wonder is no where near the starting 11. and there are too many attacking players in decent positions.”
by Jibbywib, Cotham
Monday, December 07 2009, 2:18PM
“Hello Marcus darling, missing me I see. Few would dispute our ideal starting line up would be Skuse & Hartely with Sno behind the front two if you don't take injuries and the set up of the opposition into account. Unfortunately your blinkered view off affairs has yet again neglected to do so and you favour have a good old misguided moan.
I don't dispute a lot of what you mentioned (for a change) but Orr is coming back from injury and Skuse had to play right back which is why he wasn't in midfield.
Further, given that we had lost two on the spin I am sure that Gary thought that as we were at home he would try a 4 across the middle tucking in the wide players and giving scope to allow the full backs to go forward, which happened.
The problem is that we don't have a consistent, reliable right sided player and we don't have a left sided player at all so Sno and Elliott filled in.
If you hadn't noticed Ribeiro is on loan and lacks experience at this level.
GJ tried something different and it didn't pay off. Given the impact Sproule had coming on I would have favoured with hindsight having Elliott and Hartley in the middle with him out wide causing problems for 90 mins rather than 20 but that is easy to say now.
If you had been at the shareholders meeting recently, as I was, you would know that GJ has views on the current balance of the squad and is looking to address this during the window if the right players are available.”