Town striker Luke Varney is banking on fans pumping up the volume at Portman Road this week after the funereal atmosphere he and his colleagues encountered in recent away games at both Bolton and Cardiff.

Varney has underlined the important role that supporters have to play as Blackburn are tonight’s visitors, followed by Rotherham on Saturday, for clashes that could make or break the club’s challenge to secure a play-off finish to the season.

The 33-year-old striker said: “It would be nice to have some atmosphere because the last two games at Bolton and Cardiff have been dead.

“It was like a morgue on both occasions. Bolton are in a difficult position on and off the pitch but Cardiff also felt flat and they are pushing for the play-offs.

“It was a weird one because there were so few fans. People were saying it was because of the rugby, which I found a bit surprising.

“But as the away team we were quite happy with that in the first half, although we conceded the goal.

“I quite enjoy it when the away crowd are giving you a bit of stick because it gees you up a little bit.

“There’s no problem at our own place so it will be good to be back at Portman Road under the lights with a great atmosphere and hopefully we will get the results we want.

“The aim in most away games is to quieten their crowd and I don’t think we did enough at Cardiff.

“We didn’t have a lot to do to make it happen either. It was a disappointing return, just the one point from two away games, and when you look at them we could have had all six points.

“We are experienced and we realise from what happened last year that it’s about the amount of points you have at the end.

“As things stand we believe we are still on course to finish in the top six and we know the support from our own fans counts for a lot.”

Their meagre haul from last week’s two away games makes it all the more important that Town cash in on their home advantage against first Blackburn and then Neil Warnock’s relegation-threatened, but revived, Rotherham at the weekend.

Varney added: “The talk in the changing room is that we’re demanding all six points. We feel we need two wins after the disappointment of our last two results but if it is four points, and we’ve had two good performances, we’ll be happy enough.”

The ex-Blackburn player will be hoping to play some part and believes the fact that he can play wide or through the middle boosts his chances of being involved, either as a member of the starting line-up or from the bench.

He said: “I think it does give me a chance but when I came on at Bolton last Tuesday I think I played in about six different positions in just 20-odd minutes. Whatever the gaffer demands of me I will do. I will do everything I can to help the team.”

Photo: Action Images

Jimmy86 added 10:58 - Mar 15 It's great that Varney is so versatile and can cover a number of different positions, but I find it worrying he was asked to cover 6 different positions in 20 mins!!! Strikes me as being a bit stab in the dark and hope for the best
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jas0999 added 10:58 - Mar 15 The atmosphere at Portman Road has generally been decent this season. However, it's up to the players to entertain and encourage the fans to be noisy. To do that, the management need to select an attacking line up and get at the opposition right from the start.
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warbeat78 added 11:40 - Mar 15 Pump up the volume!! How about pumping up the action you have plenty enough support, you are payed to Play & entertain, unlike us we pay to support you, and cheer you on, making you the ones to lead the way coyb
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RaymondovicBlue added 12:12 - Mar 15 Primarily WE pay to be entertained by people who ARE PAID (lots!) to entertain us. We all love it when the stands are rocking ... but professional footballers should be able to "turn it on" rather than waiting for fans to lift and motivate them. Isn't motivation what wet pay a management team for? BUT as we need six points and then a good run in with some tough games. ....let's be that twelfth (and 13th) man!!! COYB

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sydneytown added 12:28 - Mar 15 im sure if the crowd is entertained then there will be plenty of noise bit hard to get excited about recent football on show at portman road
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ArnieM added 12:36 - Mar 15 the players and management want more atmosphere at PR do they? Well now here's an idea for them to consider. PLAY SOME ENTERTAINING FOOTBALL! Give us something to actually get involved in and excited about. It really isn't bloody rocket science!!!
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Elto added 12:42 - Mar 15 The atmosphere at Bolton could be explained by the fact that it was the 70th anniversary of the Burnden disaster. It wasn't helped by someone not remembering to turn off the music for Abide With Me until long after the singer had left the pitch. On and on it went, nice tune but there is a limit. If you closed your eyes it wouldn't have been difficult to imagine that the stadium was empty. Picked up a bit later though, around the 97th minute, boo-hoo!

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JewellintheTown added 13:42 - Mar 15 Always thought that the "modern game" needed an injection of a bit of "street" football type entertainment skills. lt's all gotten too serious nowadays, players too scared to try a few training ground informal tricks. Wouldn't want to see a footballing equivalent of the Harlem Globtrotters display, but some on ball skills like they have in street football wouldn't do any harm. Wouldn't want to go too far from the traditional game, but a bit of South American "sparkle" might brighten up a dull match. Better than the boring dross we pay to see at the moment.

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planetblue_2011 added 15:15 - Mar 15 Give us some excitement to pump the volume up then Varney!! Can't remember the last time we have beat a team more than 1 goal at home. We are always on tender hooks, go out & batter these teams then the atmosphere will be electric.
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lonelyblue added 15:41 - Mar 15 Um, I suggest some of you read what LV actually said. He's really being quite complimentary to the Town supporters. Bet he's glad he bothered.
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battyblue added 15:49 - Mar 15 Dire entertainment by a Dire manager playing spoiling tactics and Hoofball bores anyone ridged so if you want excitement from us you need to change it
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