THIS can’t go on.

Another shameful away day – as Ipswich shipped in six of the worst at Leicester City – plunged Town further into the relegation scrap and plummeted their goal difference to a shocking minus-25.

It was the second 6-0 reverse of the season, as well as a 5-0 at Crystal Palace just 10 days previous.

Mick McCarthy must quickly solve why the Blues capitulate so easily when the pressure is on – after conceding four first-half goals at the King Power Stadium.

A failure to do so will surely result in relegation.

Town’s goal difference is an utter embarrassment, the worst in English football and one of the worst in all of the top two divisions across Europe.

The manager refused to point the finger at his dire team after what was, overall, their worst performance of the season.

But he also didn’t hide behind a performance that he summed up as “abject, awful, humiliating and embarrassing”.

And experienced defender Danny Higginbotham conceded that staying in the Championship was now the only aim.

The on-loan centre-back said: “Without a doubt, we are concerned – this club needs to stay in this division by hook or by crook.

“People say when you go on loan at a football club, you don’t care. But for me, and I am sure for all the other lads that are on loan, we care – it matters as much to me as if I was here permanently.

“We know it is going to be a tough season. But it is a great club – the fans were fantastic on Saturday – and people need to appreciate and realise it.”

McCarthy’s four matches has seen a dozen goals conceded, but aside from two defensive horror shows, it should not be forgotten that six points have been gained from a possible 12.

If that kind of form is maintained in the months ahead, Ipswich Town will be safe.