Town loanee Matthew Pennington has been ever-present since the arrival of new boss Paul Lambert but he admitted: “While I’m happy to be playing I’d be happier if we were winning.”
Pennington, who is on a season-long stint from Everton, has responded well to the arrival of Lambert in late October after Paul Hurst’s dismissal — but he accepts results have not been good enough.
Rock-bottom Town take on Millwall at Portman Road tomorrow desperate for the victory needed to move closer to the teams immediately above them. If they are going to close the seven-point gap — plus goal difference — between them and safety they must start banking points on a more regular basis.
Pennington added: "Do we have to beat Millwall? Yes, I think so. It’s a huge game for us — a six-pointer if you like — and with it being at Portman Road we can hopefully get the fans behind us and get a positive result.
"When we beat Wigan we were hoping to go on and get other good results on the back of that win. But it hasn’t happened in the last couple of games, which was disappointing, especially with the decent performances we put in.
"It’s all about results and we need to get them in the next couple of games, which are massive games for us, and hopefully we can get a win against Millwall tomorrow.
"I know we can do it, and we’ve got to have that belief in the squad, so it’s about the next game and seeing what we can do.”
Pennington, 24, believes Lambert has been a major influence over his 10 games in charge of the Blues and added: "The gaffer has improved my game in the short time he has been here. I feel like a much-improved player with the style of play he has brought in.
"I think it suits me and I’ve enjoyed his new ideas and seeing how he works with the team. I think everyone has seen the improvement.
"The gaffer is very hands-on with the team when he is showing us how he wants us to play and where we need to be. That’s very good for the players because he shows how we can improve individually and as a team.”
The central defender or full-back is certain supporters will see a different Town side tomorrow to the one beaten 3-0 at The Den just two days after Hurst was sacked. Caretaker-boss Bryan Klug was in charge that day and manager-in-waiting Lambert looked on from the stand alongside his new backroom team.
Pennington said: "We are a different team, 100 per cent. A more well-oiled team, I would say, and hopefully we can continue to get better results at home, which we have been doing recently. That’s the form we’ll be looking to take into tomorrow’s game to get the win.
"These games — Millwall, the FA Cup tie at Accrington Stanley and then Rotherham at home — are vital for us as we’re at a big point in the season. The league games are against two teams not too far away from us in the table, so they are huge.”
Pennington accepts a number of supporters have probably thrown in the towel and accept Town will be playing League One football next season. "I guess they do,” he added. "But as long as that mood stays away from our camp, and we can all keep the belief, I’m sure we will be fine.
"We’re obviously under pressure but the manager has been really good with us in that respect.
"He’s told us to play his way and taken the shackles off, and he’s said that if we do keep playing that way the results will come. We’ve shown we can create chances, it’s just the fine details we need to get right.”
Asked about the individual errors that have proved costly this season, Pennington added: "Every one of us is trying to do the right things and play the right way.
"Yes, we need to cut the mistakes out, but it’s not about individuals. It’s collectively, as a team, that we win or lose games. It’s not down to individuals.
"We need to keep playing the way we’ve been playing and hopefully the results will follow. Clean sheets would help. They are our bread and butter, and as defenders they are what we always look for.”
He may be a loan player, rather than none contracted to the club on a permanent basis, but when Pennington was asked if he and the other loanees cared as much as the others he was quick to answer: "I think so and I certainly do because I feel part of the club and the family. I’m putting all my effort into helping us to stay in the Championship.
"It is physically demanding at this busy stage of the season but because I’ve had a good run in the side I feel fit and healthy, so long may that continue.
"I’ve been lucky that my family were able to come down to Suffolk and spend a few days with me over Christmas, which has been nice.”
Finally, Pennington turned his attention to the Town supporters who have had so little cheer this season or, indeed, throughout 2018. "The fans have been brilliant,” he said.
"Despite the situation we find ourselves in they have been behind us all the way. I’m sure that will be the case for the Millwall game and I just hope we can get a positive result for them because they deserve it.”