Ipswich Town manager Mick McCarthy has called upon supporters to put aside any of their frustrations and get behind the team for two crunch home matches.

Blues fans have been critical of McCarthy’s tactics, owner Marcus Evans’ limited spend on transfer fees and the club’s recent decision to increase the price of season tickets during a disappointing campaign.

Now Town face fellow-strugglers Birmingham and Wigan at Portman Road next Saturday and Tuesday respectively knowing continued poor form could put the club’s 60-year stay in the top two tiers of English football under serious threat.

With the Blues just five points above the drop zone with eight games to play, how important is it that everyone gets behind the team in this difficult time?

“That would be my message,” said McCarthy. “Irrespective of me, Marcus, any side issue, it’s Ipswich Town, it’s the supporters’ club and they’re going to be there long after I’ve gone and long after Marcus has gone.

“It’s important that we all stick together and that it’s a good atmosphere for us, a hostile atmosphere for them, and that we win on Saturday.

“There’s no point coming in and being apathetic. We need everybody to really be together.”

Asked if he could have done without the recent ill-feeling whipped up by a season ticket price hike, the Blues boss said: “I certainly don’t need any more ill-feeling. I don’t think this time it’s been directed at me though – I’m not taking the blame for that!

“I guess I could have done without it, but there is a time when all the side issues have to be put to the side.

“I know people will say ‘it’s alright for you, you get paid’ – I know that.

“But we’ve all got to be really together. The last thing we need is, after 20 minutes, there’s a bad pass, a whole load of groans and we encourage Birmingham. We don’t want to encourage them at all. We want to discourage them right from the very start, both with the way we play and the way we are supported.”