The City keeper made a string of excellent saves to keep out Roy Keane's side at Ashton Gate on Saturday afternoon.
"We were too open defensively and thank goodnes Dean was in excellent form," the City boss said after the match.
"He spilled a shot early on when it skimmed off the surface, but it didn't affect his confidence and from then on he was in great form.
"Some of our players are a little short on confidence and we need a win to lift things at the moment.
"But we're still in touch with the play-off positions and promotion is won over 46 games.
"We are getting crosses in from wide positions but need better movement in the box and more players getting on the end of them."