Ipswich Town’s play-off dream may be fading, but the Blues faithful must continue to back, and not bait, their players.

That’s the view of Alex Mathie who believes the singling out of Jonathan Douglas in last Tuesday’s home draw with Charlton was uncalled for.

Douglas was jeered on several occasions during the game, before the club suffered a backlash on social media, after announcing the player had penned a year’s contract extension.

Town must win at sixth-placed Sheffield Wednesday – the Owls currently eight points ahead of the Blues with five games left – on Saturday, to retain any hope of finishing in the top-six, and Mathie has called for the fans to back Mick McCarthy’s men.

“It will affect the player, no matter what they say,” said the former Town striker.

“You don’t get in a Mick McCarthy team unless you are giving 110% and no-one goes out to have a bad game.

“It’s not nice to hear and it’s not nice for the other fans that aren’t doing it. I also think it can give your opponents a lift.”

Ipswich have won just 20 points from a possible 51 since January 2 and Mathie added: “The last two games I saw (Huddersfield and Bolton away) they looked very defensive.

“Sometimes when you do that, it’s hard to get back playing free-flowing football again.

“I still think Mick’s done a great job, considering where the team was when he took over.”

McCarthy has been restricted to shopping mainly for free transfers and loans since arriving in Suffolk, and Mathie warned: “Unless the club spends lots and lots they are not going to challenge the top teams, although you are not guaranteed success if you pay big money either.

“The play-offs is a big ask at this stage, but Mick is still the right man for the job,”