Chairman David Sheepshanks has backed manager Jim Magilton despite the Blues falling to their fifth successive defeat at Southampton on Saturday.

Sheepshanks said: “I have every faith in the manager. It was a unanimous decision to appoint him and the decision was widely acclaimed.

“This bad run is trying our patience and thank goodness we play no more games in February.

“It is one of the worst months I can remember playing-wise at the club and, fingers crossed, March will bring similar performances to the ones we enjoyed in January."

Town have now gone six games without a goal and have failed to net in their last seven away matches.

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