The name Jordan Miles may not be that familiar with Ipswich Town’s fans but Scott Loach was quick to spread the word after the Blues’ 1-0 win at Derby on Saturday.
Loach earned much of the praise, along with match-winner Carlos Edwards, after saving Jamie Ward’s first-half penalty and pulling off three more crucial saves to keep Derby at bay.
But the modest keeper, who has been urged by manager Mick McCarthy to be more arrogant, was keen to share the plaudits at Pride Park, and pointed to Miles, the Blues’ first-team performance analyst.
Miles, a 24-year-old Nottingham University graduate, was ironically a member of staff at the Rams’ football academy before being plucked by former boss Paul Jewell to work behind the scenes at Portman Road.
And his attention to detail paid off at the weekend as Loach guessed right in saving Ward’s penalty, following a number of hours spent analysing the forward’s technique from the spot.
“Jordan is brilliant and if I could write the headlines for this game I would give them to him, he was the one that showed me Ward’s penalties before the game,” said the former Watford stopper.
“He really works hard with me every Thursday and Friday, not just on penalties, because I think a lot of that is pot luck as players now know that goalkeepers study them.
“But he gives you an idea of where they are likely to put the ball, based on their past attempts.
“He also talks to you about the opposition’s midfield and attack, in terms of their movement and how they like to play.
“He works right through the team, not just with me and that gives you the extra 10 per cent to go and get the win.”
The penalty save from Loach was his second of a frustrating first season at Portman Road in which he has often played second-fiddle to former loan goalkeeper Stephen Henderson.
“I got lucky on the penalty and saved it but it could have easily gone the other side,” said Loach, who also denied Huddersfield’s James Vaughan from 12 yards earlier in the campaign.
“I work hard with the goalkeeping coach, Malcolm Webster, every day, and the other goalkeepers at the club (Arran Lee-Barrett and Jason Brown) and they both push me very hard.”
A self-confessed Town fan, Loach was delighted with Edwards’ winner although he kept his celebrations to a minimum as he was stood in front of the home fans.
“It was just a shame I wasn’t in front of our fans, otherwise I would have jumped in with them and I would have still been with them now!” said Loach.
“You have got to give respect to the opposition fans and I didn’t want to take the mick out of them at the end.
“The Derby fans were brilliant and having a laugh with me, saying ‘It’s (a Derby goal) getting closer’, and I was saying ‘I know’, but we escaped.
“I actually turned round to have a laugh with one of them after the goal but he had gone.”
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