Dean’s Had It Tough

With the worst defensive record in the Championship, shipping a total of 77 goals this term, U’s goalkeeper Dean Gerken has had a somewhat ‘tough’ time between the sticks.

The U’s have only kept two clean sheets all season, going on a run of 38 successive games of conceding goals. Not good.

The U’s poor defensive record has been down to a fragile back four, with Bela Balogh, Adam Virgo, Karl Duguid and Danny Granville all failing to impress, not goalkeeper Gerken…

Gerken has made a number of ‘world class’ saves to keep the U’s from shipping even more goals. The young stopper’s impressive displays have been justified; as West Ham boss Alan Curbishley is reportedly preparing a summer bid for the 22-year-old.

‘It’s been a tough season for young Dean because three of last year’s back four left in the summer,’ Williams said, following the U’s draw away to Leicester.

‘We have had a lot of injuries and different personnel in front of him. We have conceded too many goals this year and he’s taken too much pressure on himself.’

The Welshmen spoke of his delight to see him earn a clean sheet against Ipswich: ‘It was great to see a clean sheet from him last week (against Ipswich) and he got close to one this week.’