It’s time for the Ipswich Town fans to get behind their team as they bid to capitalise on a ‘glimmer of hope’ in their battle to make the Championship play-offs, according to Blues legend Kevin Beattie.
After successive away victories over Preston and Sheffield Wednesday, the Blues return to Suffolk soil on Saturday for a home clash with Sheffield United before the rearranged game with Hull City at Portman Road on Tuesday night.
The Blues sit seven points off the final play-off place going into the two home games, with Beattie hoping the two road wins and a restored belief within the playing squad will help them take the next step at Portman Road.
“Ahead of these two games (Sheffield Wednesday and United) I was thinking four points, but we’ve got the three at Wednesday and I fancy us in the next two home games,” Beattie, widely-considered to be the club’s greatest ever player, said.
“That result on Tuesday has given the lads faith again and there is a glimmer of hope there after those two results.
“Let’s just hope this can get the fans back in because they were two excellent results but now we have to do it at home.
“Hopefully that can be the start of getting the fans back, that’s the most important thing. Things are going well away from home but we have to get the fans back on side.
“It gets on my nerves when people are knocking Mick (McCarthy) all the time – they should give the guy a chance. OK, he’s been here a long time but he’s the one who picks the team and takes all the stick. The injuries have been hard and they don’t help, so let’s get back on track.
“He is going to be here until the end of the season without a doubt, so let’s get behind him now and that should help the players also.”
Tuesday’s night’s victory at Sheffield Wednesday was inspired by two Martyn Waghorn goals, with Beattie delighted to see the striker end a 15-game drought.
“Waggy scoring again after 15 games is fabulous and he’s now on 12 goals which is decent tally,” he said.
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“Strikers are a funny breed, just like us defenders, and the longer they go on the harder it can be.
“They won’t lose faith in themselves if they’re not scoring because the boss wouldn’t play them if they did, but Mick has faith in Waggy and he proved why.”
“He has a great left foot and he showed that with the free-kick, it was superb.”
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