‘We win together, we lose together’ is becoming one of the more over-used cliches in football these days, but the phrase is certainly apt when it comes to play-off hopefuls Ipswich Town.

At what is a critical stage of the season, the significance of individual performances is brought into sharper focus with such fine lines between success and failure.

In recent weeks, eighth-placed Town’s usually water-tight defence has been questioned, following a series of individual errors and uncharacteristic sloppiness.

At the other end of the field, Mick McCarthy’s men have struggled to find the back of the net in recent weeks, failing to score more than one goal in any of their previous eight games, while talisman Daryl Murphy has scored just twice in 10 matches.

Such has been Murphy’s form this season that when he goes through a lean spell, the team inevitably suffers.

Tyrone Mings, meanwhile, another star peformer, has missed the last two games through suspension, opening the door for Crystal Palace loanee Zeki Fryers to take his place.

After a decent debut against Bournemouth, Fryers suffered a difficult opening 45 minutes in the defeat at Huddersfield, was at fault for the opening goal, and has since been the subject of some fierce criticism on social media.

Fryers is likely to be taken out of the spotlight tomorrow with Mings set to return against rock-bottom Blackpool, while much of the responsibility to get goals will again fall on the broad shoulders of Murphy, especially if five-goal Freddie Sears is once again benched by Mick McCarthy.

But there will be no more pressure put on Murphy by his team-mates, says Luke Varney, who revealed that the unfortunate Fryers also had a the full backing of the Portman Road dressing room.

On Fryers, fellow loanee Varney said: “Every loan player’s situation is different and Zeki has his contract at Crystal Palace and has played a lot of games at Rotherham this season.

“I was a bit different as I had not played a lot and I was dying to get started, but whatever our situations, we win as a team and lose as a team.

“There has been no criticism fired by us at Zeki and he will be right in there with us on Saturday, whether he plays or not.”

Varney grabbed his maiden goal for Town in Monday’s 2-1 defeat at Huddersfield and is keen to contribute more in front of goal in the four games left he can play for Town (Varney can’t play against parent club Blackburn on the final day.)

“If you look at the goal stats, people have probably not helped out as much as they could have,” added Varney.

“We are working on our shooting with Terry Connor and if we start the game properly, we will get the goals I am sure.”