Town skipper Luke Chambers has leapt to the defence of under-fire colleague Jonathan Douglas after supporters made him the number one target of their frustration at the team’s recent lack of success.
Mick McCarthy’s men go into tomorrow’s visit of Douglas's former club Blackburn Rovers having registered just three wins from their last 11 home games in all competitions, a run that has tried supporters’ patience and turned the Portman Road atmosphere toxic at times.
Things reached an all-time low when experienced midfielder Douglas, 35, was subjected to loud boos upon his introduction from the bench, with 21 minutes left for play, in the 2-1 defeat at QPR earlier this month.
Chambers said: "Jonathan has had a hard time of it. He’s getting abused when he comes on. Why would anyone ever want to play for the club again if you are running on to the pitch as a sub and you’re getting booed by your own supporters?
"I don’t get it. If that was me I’d be thinking ‘I think it’s time for me to leave now.’ How do you come back from that? The only good thing is that it doesn’t seem to have affected Jonathan because he’s such a strong character.
"He’s been here, there and everywhere, he’s been successful in his career and he’s played hundreds of games.
"But I still don’t see how that treatment of a player is going to benefit anyone. It’s just letting the frustrations of the situation we find ourselves in come through on to the pitch.”
Chambers, 31, admits he is close to Douglas, but he added: "We’re all close in there. When you’re a player, and one of your team-mates is getting that sort of stick, you think it’s unwarranted and unacceptable.
"But you’re never going to win a fight if you’re picking it with the fans. They are entitled to voice their opinion.
"The lads appreciate what Jonathan does for the team and what he’s done in a very difficult time for us.
"For me it’s very, very disappointing, and it was especially disappointing during the game at QPR.
"When he came on it was no small thing. I think the lads almost went ‘Hold on a minute, what’s happening here?’ It’s never a good thing during a game.
"We need to try to be pulling in the same direction, regardless, and I know we’re not playing well at the minute.
"We just need to try to stick together and get ourselves through this difficult period because it’s a long season and as much as everyone is getting frustrated we need to try to stick on the same page and try to get ourselves of this — it’s not a mess — difficult period that we’re having.
"Jonathan will laugh and brush it off, but everyone goes through periods in their careers where they’re singled out or become scapegoats. He hasn’t got any other thoughts on it than that and he’s probably been made to feel pretty crap.
"But we’re backing him and we know that when he’s called upon he’ll do a job for the team.
"People are going to have their opinions and that’s what football is all about. Everyone’s got an opinion, whether they’re right or not, but you generally tend to hear the negative opinions the most.”
While the fans’ frame of mind may be largely negative, however, Chambers insists there is still plenty of positivity in the dressing room. Asked about the mood in the camp, he replied: "It’s probably where it should be at the minute. We’re not overly pleased with ourselves.
"Half the season has gone and we’re not pleased with our result last week (against Lincoln) so we’re looking to put things right and try to get a sustained run together. Unfortunately, that’s something we haven’t managed to do so far.”