It’s a critical week for Ipswich Town and the way their supporters feel towards manager Mick McCarthy.

It’s been steady progression throughout the Yorkshireman’s three-year reign and results have always spoken much louder than any doubts over style of play, transfer policy and team selection.

You always sensed that those concerns were lying dormant among a section of the club’s fans though and that it wouldn’t take much for the Blues boss to quickly go from hero to zero in many people’s eyes.

We’re not quite in that territory yet, but you sense it could go that way following Saturday’s drab goalless home draw with Huddersfield Town. That’s one win in seven league matches now.

McCarthy certainly didn’t help himself with a typically stubborn post-match press conference at the weekend.

When it was put to him that fans had chanted the names of substitutes David McGoldrick and Kevin Bru at different stages, he replied: “The more they shout the less chance there is they will come on.”

It’s not the first time he has made this semi tongue-in-cheek comment. This time it just seemed a little less humorous given the circumstances.

Managers have to rise above popular opinion and have conviction in their decisions, of course they do. They see the players train day-in, day-out and McCarthy feels his record in the game should afford him more trust and respect.

You should never tell supporters that their opinion is worthless though.

The Portman Road faithful may not be the loudest in the country, but, I would suggest, they are among the most patient, fair and knowledgeable around.

They were entitled, having paid their money, to let it be known that they would like some more creativity on the field and a bit more balance to the team.

On the flip side, you could see the reasoning behind McCarthy’s approach. He wanted to stay loyal to who he considers to be his best players and, to be fair, the likes of Dean Gerken has justified such faith of late, Christophe Berra was much-improved and the midfield duo of Cole Skuse and Jonathan Douglas had their best match as a pairing.

If Saturday’s clean sheet gives the team confidence to get back to their gritty best at Hull City tomorrow and at Nottingham Forest on Saturday he will feel vindicated.

The Blues boss should remember that the club unity he so values includes fans as well as players and staff though.