Town boss Paul Jewell says he and his squad need to stand up and be counted and face up to the challenge of turning their season around. The Blues manager, who celebrates his 48th birthday today, knows full well that fans are unhappy at the moment, not least because one supporter shouted at him in the street while he was out shopping.
Jewell said: "We can’t be frightened of the challenge, we need to stand up and be counted. When people’s backs are against the wall, whether that’s managers, players or whatever, you can’t hide away from the challenge.
"It’s not pleasant losing matches, it’s not pleasant people shouting after you down the street, it’s not pleasant people calling you names.
"But I haven’t done anything wrong other than lose football matches. I’ve just got to try and be strong and have belief in myself and what we’re doing.
"It’s tough, but I’ve had 600-odd games as a manager and some tough times, and also had some good times. Without the tough times the good times never come around. You’re just asking people to stand up and be brave. That’s what we’re doing.”
He dismisses the name-calling incident - "I was shopping and someone was shouting. It was a bit of banter really” — but is under no illusions regarding his standing amongst supporters at present: "I don’t read the papers but I’m not daft, I know that I’m not everyone’s cup of tea, I understand that. But that I’ve been trying my best to try and turn things around.
"That’s all I can do. The only way I can change people’s opinions of me is by us winning matches. I’m not stupid.”
The Liverpudlian admits that he’s fed up of being quizzed about his future due to Town’s struggles: "I’m tired of all these questions, to be honest. You’re going to get them, that’s the nature of the game.
"One of these days, hopefully, we’ll do a press conference here where we all have a laugh and we can talk about the good run we’re on.
"We’ve missed chances and opportunities that we shouldn’t have and consequently we’ve been punished down the other end. That’s the simple fact.
"The two goals against Charlton, we’d got possession of the ball on both occasions, we lose it and within seconds it’s in our net and we’re chasing the game.”
He believes some of his side’s performances have deserved more: "We’ve had seven games and it’s so tight, but I can’t keep saying that.
"I didn’t think we deserved to beat Charlton. I thought we were unlucky against Wolves and I thought we were unlucky against Middlesbrough.
"We could easily be sat here with six more points than we’ve got now and we wouldn’t be having this conversation.
"But we haven’t, so I’m quite prepared to have the conversation. It’s not an issue that I can run away from.”
Last year Town ended a seven-match run of defeats by winning an extraordinary game 5-3 at Barnsley having been 2-0 down at half-time, however, the Blues manager doesn’t see any particular significance in that ahead of Saturday’s return to South Yorkshire: "It’s just the next game. The longer it goes without us winning, that elusive victory becomes harder and harder.
"We’ve got to try and believe in our team and our strengths and basically take our chances when they come along. Because we haven’t done that it’s put pressure on the defence and we’ve conceded goals and you can see the confidence ebbing away.
"We’ve got to be brave. It’s not easy. It’s easy to sit here and say it, but getting out there and being brave is another thing.”