Leicester v Ipswich: We need to stick together.

That is Ipswich Town manager Mick McCarthy’s message to the club’s players and supporters following Saturday’s humiliating 6-0 defeat at Leicester City.

The result followed hot on the heels of a 5-0 thrashing at Crystal Palace, the Blues’ goal difference now standing at an embarrassing minus 25.

Town have ground out wins over lesser Championship opposition in the form of Birmingham City and Burnley in recent weeks though and if McCarthy can replicate his record of one and a half points a game over the final 29 matches then Championship safety should be assured.

The straight-talking Blues boss admitted his side’s latest display was ‘abject’ and ‘awful’, but he delivered his post-match assessment with a sense of calm and perspective.

“The only way we’ll survive and thrive is by being together,” said McCarthy, who made a point of shaking the hand of every one of his shell-shocked players at the full-time whistle before sending them over to recognise the 990 travelling fans who had endured another painful away day.

“After a defeat like that there are generally some that are pointing fingers and screaming and shouting, but I wasn’t like that because there’s no point.

“It was a poor performance, but I’ve got to keep everyone together and in the right frame of mind to go again for the next one.”

In what is rapidly looking like a five-team fight for safety at the bottom, Ipswich host a Peterborough side just one point below them in the table on Saturday.