Boss Mick McCarthy believes the Blues can still hit their pre-season target of the play-offs, despite their current position, but says a top-six finish will be more realistic if everyone is pulling together. Town visit Sheffield Wednesday today sitting 16th in the table, six points off the play-offs and four points from the relegation zone.

“It is, of course,” McCarthy said when asked if reaching the play-offs is still realistic. “And it’ll be a far more realistic target if we’re all together with it. There’s no doubt that the players, myself and the staff are and I’d say the fans are in the main.

“But we’ve got Saturday’s game and then we come back and we’ve got two at home [against Nottingham Forest and QPR] and it’s going to make it a lot easier to play if there’s a really good positive atmosphere about it.

“I understand that we have to create that with our results and our performances, but it is a lot easier to do it and to play in if the atmosphere’s good.

“It’s a collective thing. It can’t just be the fans, we can’t just rely on the fans to turn up and make a good atmosphere and they can’t rely on us. It’s got to be done together.

“And that’s been the case for me over the last four years, and I hope it will be the same again.”

McCarthy has regularly praised the Blues’ away support during his time as boss and he hopes they play their part at Hillsborough this afternoon.

“Wonderful support,” he said before reflecting on the chants aimed in his direction during the second half of last week’s 2-2 home draw with Rotherham.

“If you think about it, out of four years and 201 games, I’ve had one little dodgy afternoon where a few shouted and have been upset about how we’ve played and how we’ve not beaten Rotherham who are bottom of the league. That’s not a bad average that, is it, to be fair.

“I think about Watford, Charlton, every time we’re at Charlton, Fulham away, MK Dons away.

“I just think about the away games, certainly the ones the fans can travel to [more easily], we’ve had brilliant support. Derby when we go there, fantastic. Let’s keep it up.”

After the boos and chants aimed at him during the Rotherham game, is McCarthy happier to be away from home this weekend?

“It wouldn’t bother me at all if we were at Portman Road, I wouldn’t be concerned about that,” he insisted.

“We come back after the break and have two home games. If I start worrying about playing at home that would be a real concern and it never is.

“I go out every week and I expect to win at home. And we’re going to Hillsborough against a really good side, so I don’t see it as a plus point, I have to be honest.

“I’ll still get stick at Hillsborough, they like me, being from Barnsley I’ve always been one of their favourite sons!”

Photo: TWTD

Penguinblue added 06:10 - Nov 5 Playoffs are still possible - but with a decent manager do the decent thing and go. McCarthy OUT
8

christiand added 06:28 - Nov 5 Not a chance. Bottom 3 is more likely the way we are playing.
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BrettenhamBlue added 06:38 - Nov 5 No chance. Avoiding relegation should be aim for this season. League 1 next year is not a pleasant prospect.
5

trncbluearmy added 06:38 - Nov 5 Have you seen us play?! No chance
8

Flewstar85 added 06:42 - Nov 5 That can't be the only time he's heard boos!! I can't remember what team we played last season but I was at the game at Portman road when we didn't have a shot til the 70 odd minute then there was sicastic cheers and boos!! At half and full time there was shouting towards MM and the players and I think it was at that point last season that fans started calling for micks head.

9

Sir_Bob added 06:48 - Nov 5 Having only scored 2 away goals all season and only scored in 2 games out of the last 8, the play-offs seem highly unlikely. Plus saying we should all stick together to try & get fans not to boo, mmmmmm
11

jas0999 added 06:55 - Nov 5 Of course it is. So is relegation. If we look to win games of football we may stand an outside chance but would also need to add some real quality to the squad in January, which would mean investment from our owner. Unlikely to happen.
7

prebbs007 added 07:08 - Nov 5 You are either deaf stupid or deluded Dinosaur !!! Only once hear a few boos ?? Liar. Staff players and fans all pulling together ?? Liar. You now want all the fans to support you while you have publicly declared you don't give a sh1t what we think ?? You're even more mental than I thought. You gain the support of fans by playing a style that entertains and brings results. Your hoofball dross does neither. You gain respect by admitting your mistakes and not repeating them week after week. You've done neither. You get backing by dropping dross carthorses who are continually out of form and out of position and playing creative pacey skillfull footballers. You've done neither. So don't now start asking us to back you coz it's all turning to sh1t. It's too late man. You've blown it by your continued stubbornness your inability to adapt to the modern game your refusal to change your blind disregard if fans and you constant picking of your favourite "good honest blokes" You're a joke now go away so we can hopefully avoid relegation !! Top 6 hahaha is it April 1st ????

17

bobble added 07:11 - Nov 5 Its clearly magic mushroom season again in suffolk..
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Umros added 07:31 - Nov 5 😂😂😂😂😃😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
3

tractorboybig added 07:46 - Nov 5 I am sure the punch on our badge has been changed to a flying pig!
4

Ardentitfc1978 added 07:51 - Nov 5 I believe you MM & all the lads.....but you need to start getting the results.
1

muccletonjoe added 08:25 - Nov 5 It would be more realistic if all our best players are PLAYING together
7

ChrisFelix added 08:26 - Nov 5 Top 6 only with only one defensive midfielder. Replace Douglas with some who both attacking & defensive qualities. ie pace. Also suggest playing a target man, someone to lead the line
2

joepublic added 08:47 - Nov 5 A bit rich MM telling the fans he holds in contempt to rally around him. However top six is still a possibility but if he wants to stop getting stick then: Play players on form If you come in and play well you keep your place Set up to trouble opposition and not just match them Perhaps accept that most Town fans do not want dull route one footy and its mostly attacking teams that escape this league.

7

dirtydingusmagee added 08:53 - Nov 5 more chance of there being life on Mars .There has been absolutely no hint that it is likely we could make the playoffs. Keeping out of drop zone will be hard enough . Mick is always clinging on to the hope he get as high as sixth,thats good enough for him, We need a manager who believes First is first and second is nowhere.
6

brittaniaman added 08:57 - Nov 5 PLAY OFFS !!! All I can say is that the best we will achieve this season will be starting our 16th year in the Championship !!!!!!!! and McCarthy will have been here nearly 5yrs. by then ??????
4

blue75 added 09:08 - Nov 5 Getting confusing again Mick expects to win all his home games but sets his teams up to draw🤔
11

surgery added 09:23 - Nov 5 Top six? With your tactics and superheroes Chambers, Douglas & Skuse, we'd' be lucky to achieve that accolade in League Two!
8

martin587 added 09:41 - Nov 5 Stopped off on the A1 for breakfast and heading for Sheffield.Not sure what to expect as yet until I hear what the team is.Looks as though there is a good support as quite a few Town buses and cars have gone passed.Trepidation comes to mind.!!
3

Wonky added 09:49 - Nov 5 Actually I'd disagree. McCarthy is just the sort of manager to inspire a run based on graft and team spirit, this we've seen before. However even if we make it, we still very much lacking in quality.
-2

strikalite added 10:02 - Nov 5 4/10 Mick...then we get to this that really does sum up where we are with top 8 sides.. “I go out every week and I expect to win at home. And we're going to Hillsborough against a really good side, so I don't see it as a plus point, I have to be honest." Another defensive on the back foot display today then...nothing from the full backs(we don't do wing backs here!)so nothing from the two holding midfielders either....wonderful, only because it's in those lads blood is it that they travel to watch this brand of defensive football being served up, just pray you keep Didz fit because he could somehow save you/us this season, which you don't deserve given how toothless we now are.. Don't get me started on Dozzell....why that lad isn't getting 10 minutes here and there to blood him into the first team set up is simply beyond me...if you want to progress him and toughen him up then that's how you do it, of course he isn't ready yet, but he's learning NOTHING under you right now....did he not stick the bloody ball in the net in Sheffield last season? Can't you spot talent in front of you?? We're crying out for it!!

7

martin587 added 10:03 - Nov 5 Hello66. What did you down mark me for my comment.!! Rather strange.
0

braveblue added 10:17 - Nov 5 Well stop annoying the fans with stupid comments. Also, try playing the creative players instead of a back 6.
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Lightningboy added 10:30 - Nov 5 The thing is we had "wonderful support" of around 23,000 7 years ago...there is a reason crowds have sunk to 15,000 Mick - people want to be entertained, not bored out of their brains.
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