Luke Varney admits he feels for the Town fans who have vented their frustration in recent weeks after having little to cheer after the season started on a terrific high with a 4-2 home win over Barnsley.
Since that memorable opening-day triumph, inspired by Grant Ward’s hat-trick after he made his debut as a half-time substitute, Mick McCarthy’s men have struggled to reach the same heights in the vast majority of their subsequent nine league games at Portman Road.
However, Varney feels there were very encouraging signs in the last home against QPR, which resulted in a 3-0 win for Town — and he is looking to bank another three points when lowly Cardiff are the visitors tomorrow.
He said: "I definitely feel for the fans because they pay their money to come and watch us, and we also care as players. We all live locally, so we’re hurting just as much when we come off the pitch and see them unhappy.
"We were really pleased with a positive outcome against QPR and we want to do it again on Saturday.
"Our fans have been on our backs at times and I understand completely. We’re disappointed that attendances are down because we want them in there, giving us their support.
"It was a great feeling walking off the pitch after we beat QPR and I’m sure all the lads feel the same as I did. That’s what we want every week, especially at Portman Road, and if we get that the away performances will look after themselves.
"I’ve known supporters to be a lot worse when things weren’t going well. I’ve said to some of the other lads ‘If you think these are tough times, I used to struggle getting to my car after a game at Leeds’. I used to try to throw them a dummy. I’d come to one door and then run down to another one to.
"It was tough when I was at Charlton as well. I remember Alan Pardew getting the sack after Sheffield United beat us 5-2 at home. It was tough that day and even some of the players’ wives struggled to get to their cars. I understand fully that all fans are passionate about their teams.
"At Leeds, to be fair, it was also about what was going on off the pitch. It’s good to see that they are on the up now with a full house every week, but I’m a bit gutted it wasn’t like that when I was there.
"Fans want positive results. We’ve had a good couple of years and maybe over-achieved getting into the play-offs but we’re desperate to get wins and put a run together to get back to the right end of the league.”
Varney will be reunited this weekend with Neil Warnock, now manager of struggling Cardiff City and the man who signed Varney for Leeds in the summer of 2012. He went on to make a half-century of first team appearances for the club, scoring eight goals in all competitions.
He added: "Neil’s just as you would imagine really. He’s a bit old school but we had some good times at Leeds. Towards the end it got a bit sticky and the club was in a tough position off the pitch.
"But I enjoyed it there and I look forward to seeing Neil on Saturday. He’s not dissimilar to Mick because you get what you’re given. He gives out his instructions and if you don’t follow them you’ll pay the price.
"I’m not surprised that Neil keeps changing his mind about retiring. He loves it and I saw his enthusiasm when I was playing for him at Leeds. He was desperate to be involved.
"I’m pleased to see him back again and as long as he’s around the game will be that bit more colourful because he’s a good character to have around. I wish him all the best but not for Saturday.
"He’s always after success and I was disappointed that it didn’t come at Leeds. But he’s got a lot of promotions on his cv and at Cardiff he’s taken over a massive club.
"I spoke to him after he took the job there and he said he can’t actually believe the size of it. He’s delighted to be there and after some good results at the start they have tailed off a bit lately. Hopefully we can take some more points off them.”