‘This isn’t pressure’ – Ipswich Town striker Luke Varney tells team-mates tales of angry fans at Leeds United and Charlton Athletic

Ipswich Town striker Luke Varney has told his team-mates that any pressure they are feeling at Portman Road is nothing compared to the stick that other players get around the country.

The Blues won 15 of their 23 home leagues games when securing a Championship play-off place in 2014/15, but since then they’ve won 14 out of 36 on Suffolk soil across all competitions and left the field to a negative reaction on several occasions in 2016.

Town’s last home outing ended in a 3-0 win over QPR, but that result has been sandwiched by 2-0 defeats to Nottingham Forest (home) and Bristol City (away).

Failure to win back-to-back matches all season sees Mick McCarthy’s low-scoring side occupy 16th spot ahead of tomorrow’s visit of a Cardiff team looking to climb out of the relegation zone under Neil Warnock’s management.

“I’ve said to some of the lads that if they think this is tough, if they think the fans are on their backs, then think again,” said Varney. “I used to struggle getting in my car after games when the fans were angry at Leeds. I used to try and throw them a dummy and leave by a different door.

“It was tough at Charlton as well. Some of the lads said their wives struggled to get to the car, let alone the players, after a poor home result there.”

The 34-year-old, who has started the last two games, added: “All fans are passionate. They come and pay their money and I completely understand they get frustrated. We all hurt just as much as them when we walk off seeing them unhappy.

“It was a great feeling walking off the pitch after the QPR win and seeing smiling faces. That’s the reaction we want every week.”