Interim manager John McGreal, the former Town defender and Colchester boss, has been quick to sound out the players about what they consider to be the reasons for a recent form slump that has seen them win only two of their last 10 games in all competitions.
The 11th-placed Blues suffered their latest setback in losing 2-0 at Charlton on Tuesday, just three days after boss Paul Cook was sacked following Saturday’s goalless FA Cup second-round tie with League Two strugglers Barrow at Portman Road.
The game at the Valley came only 48 hours after McGreal answered the club’s SOS — save our season — and the next challenge for him and the players could hardly be stiffer as it comes in the form of a trip to face second-top Wigan on Saturday.
Conor Chaplin revealed: "There have been open and honest conversations within the dressing room and people have been able to voice their opinions.
"Talking is fine — it’s fine to talk about it and say what you think has gone wrong and how you think we need to improve — but we need to start showing it with our performances on the pitch and definitely fighting and scrapping.”
Asked about the players’ relationship with supporters, which suffered on Tuesday when fans clashed both verbally and physically with Toto Nsiala and Christian Walton following the final whistle, Chaplin added: "I get it 100 per cent, completely. I feel like I’m starting to get a good relationship with the fans.
"They’ve been really good, really welcoming and supportive, to me since I’ve come in. I really can’t speak highly enough of them.
"Obviously, we need them onside but we need to give them something to shout about. There are people paying good money to come and watch us, to travel the length and the breadth of the country to support us.
"They are completely entitled to their opinions and they want to see more on the pitch than they have been seeing. The frustration is there for numerous reasons and it is up to us to put it right on the pitch. Fingers crossed, the fans can get behind us at Wigan.”
A second-half substitute at Charlton, Chaplin was also asked how tough it had been on a personal level in recent weeks. He replied: "It’s only been one game — one game where I haven’t started — and that’s football. It’s just that we’ve got some very good players here.
"I’ve come to the club to play, if my performances warrant me to play, and I’ll be looking to play on Saturday.
"But whoever is in charge, it’s their decision. Whether I play or not, I’ll be fully behind everyone who does, and if I get a chance I’ll be doing everything that I can to help the boys get a win.”
From being one of the country’s leading sides in terms of goal scored, Town have struggled to find the net recently. After a thumping 4-1 success at Wycombe five weeks ago, they have only netted twice — against lowly Crewe — in their five most recent League One outings.
Chaplin said: "The lack of goals has coincided with out loss of form. We haven’t looked so fluent or so dangerous and it’s definitely something we have to pick up on as soon as possible.”
Finally, Chaplin is refusing to look too far ahead with regard to a possible FA Cup third round tie at former club Barnsley early in 2022, provided Town can safely negotiate next Wednesday’s second round replay at Barrow, which is being screened live on ITV4.
He said: "I wasn’t actually watching the draw on television. We were at the hotel where we stayed before the game at Charlton but the lads told me when they found out and I had a few text messages from boys at Barnsley who are my mates.
"We’ve got to get past Barrow first and that’s not going to be easy, as we saw in the first game. Away from home, obviously, so it’s going to be tough.”