Mikkel Andersen – Crew Cut

Danish U-21 keeper Mikkel Andersen showed what a class act he is when he kept a clean sheet against Brentford on Saturday.

Ben Hamer was in goal for Brentford and both keepers are on loan from their parent club Reading.

Rovers were down to ten men after defender Gary Sawyer picked up his second booking in the 70th minute and after the game, Mikkel was asked to come down to the bowels of the stadium where the press conferences are held. He said:

“We played well as a unit. It’s always difficult when you go down to ten men, but I think we stuck together and when had a decent result when we could’ve lost the game. Everyone’s pleased with that, but of course we wanted three points at home in front of our fans so there is a little bit of mixed feelings. StilI think everyone’s proud we kept our first clean sheet of the season.

In front of goal we just need a little bit of luck. I think the goals will come and I think in John (Akinde) we have a very good target man. You can see John is ‘a player’. He gets himself in and about (the opposition) and it’s a pleasure for me especially to have him to win the balls and flick-ons and so I think he will do us a lot of good.

I don’t remember which was my favourite save as I had so many! To be fair, that’s what I’m there for. I’m there to save the ball and that’s what I did today and so I’m happy with that.

I’m glad to be here and glad to be playing games and so hopefully I can step it up this season.

I’m still young and every season I want to step it up. I push myself every day. Mike Green (second choice keeper) and I push each other on and we have a great little unit. We’re good friends and enjoy our working relationship. Green has come on really well and I heard he played really well last week.

It was important for the confidence of the team that we showed we can keep a clean sheet. We showed great concentration and focus in the last part of the game when we’d had a man sent off.

Ben and I had a chat before and after the game. We’re good friends and he’s a good lad and I’ve known him since I went to Reading and I enjoy working with him as well.

Finally (and just so the song title above makes sense – sort of) Andersen also joked about his new crew cut hairstyle:

“I’ll think I’ll have to keep it like this for a while now. Maybe I’ll grow a beard instead.”