Teddy Bishop has confirmed that he and his team-mates remain solidly behind beleaguered Blues boss Paul Lambert, even if the vast majority of supporters have joined the call for him to be dismissed.

Town go into tomorrow’s home clash with Oxford United having won just one of their last six league games and amid growing dissent from fans who believe club owner Marcus Evans should be looking to replace Lambert at the earliest opportunity.

The inconsistency does back a lot further, of course, with Town only achieving five wins from their last 16 league games — or, put another way, collecting just 19 points from a possible 48. No matter how much you sugar-coat the stats it is form that indicates the current campaign looks like ending in disappointing fashion.

But Bishop is quick to defend Lambert, stating: “At the end of the day the manager can only say so much. When we cross that white line it’s about performances and ultimately the performances from the boys haven’t been good enough.

“Everyone is behind him and still playing for him and the club. We just want to turn this form around. The manager doesn’t play in the games so it’s about the 11 players on the field. To a man, the performances haven’t been good enough recently and we need to turn that around.”

Asked if the players were feeling the pressure and that was affecting their displays, Bishop added: “I can’t speak for everyone in the group but I suppose it is quite evident to see the confidence isn’t there and there is a lot of pressure at the moment. But personally, I feel confident at the moment and I’m ready to go.”

On the subject of fans’ feelings, Bishop continued: “I try to stay off social media really so I wouldn’t say I’m in touch with supporters. But you obviously hear a lot of the stuff that is going around and frustrations are understandably high at the moment.

“We shouldn’t be where we are — we’re a lot better than that — but the important thing is that there are still a lot of games left and we’re in a position where we can push for the play-offs.”

Bishop burst on to the first team scene at the start of the 2014/15 season but almost seven years later he has only managed to clock up a total of 114 senior appearances, due in the main to horrendous luck with injuries that have seen him spend long spells on the sidelines.

Now, with his 25th birthday on the horizon, he is one of the more senior members of a Town squad littered with younger, less experienced players. He laughed: “It’s funny because I never say that I’m still young — it comes from other people I suppose — but that’s just because I should have played a lot more games than I have done throughout my career.

“I am maybe a lot more experienced than some of the other players so I look to take that on to the field with me and try to lead a few of the lads.

“I do a lot more talking on the pitch these days than I ever did in the past. You could say I’ve found my voice and that comes with confidence. But there’s another kind of leadership that you can have and I felt it before I got injured this season.

“If we need something to happen, people will look to me. They will give me the ball and I’ll go and try to make something happen.

“That’s another way of leading and imposing myself on the game. I’ve never really doubted my ability, it’s just that there have been a lot of bumps in the road for me over the last few years. I believe in myself and I still believe I can be a really good player for the club.”

Photo: Matchday Images

Suffolk_n_Proud added 14:15 - Feb 19 I think Teddy has nailed one of our main problems by saying 'we're a lot better than that'. When you start thinking you're better than others you think you have an automatic right to beat them. It doesn't matter who you're playing, you still need 100% commitment, effort and teamwork and this team isn't anywheee near that at the moment. Forget our past. We are League 1 with League 1 players and we ned to concentrate on the now!

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thechangingman added 14:34 - Feb 19 I don't know about anyone else, but whatever I think of my boss, if I wanted to keep working for him, I'd publically say how great he is, if someone asked me. How much worse would it be, if I knew he was vindictive, and held grudges for a very long time. Additionally, if he was on thin ice, and therefore panicking in his fight for survival, I'd have to be suicidal to say anything other than: "He's an awesome guy, and we all love him..." I don't blame Bishop for this, but I am embarrased on his behalf that the club have manipulated him into spouting such blatant propaganda. My pain as a Town fan grows by the hour...

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runningout added 14:55 - Feb 19 the whole club is a shambles. Winning mentality has been non existent for years, even when we won a few it looked a false dawn. I remember the really good times and it's getting so sad now. To feel sorry for ourselves is a no no at any point
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Nobbysnuts added 15:18 - Feb 19 Just shut up Bishop..your part of the problem..a serial under performer.... lambert out. 👎👎👎
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blues1 added 15:35 - Feb 19 Cheshire blue. What? Regardless of whether on fb/twtd, or just from people Ive spoken to, either friends or other town fans, I dont know 1 person who thinks Lambert should stay. I doubt therefore than a very few who back him anymore.
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wkj added 15:57 - Feb 19 Being behind a manager who is in no way in front is not a good place to be Teddy.
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therein61 added 15:59 - Feb 19 Utter tosh Mr Bishop.
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TimmyH added 16:13 - Feb 19 yaawwwwnnnnnn!!...lick lick present managers bottom.
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bluedispare added 16:19 - Feb 19 Stop trying to kid yourself Teddy and shave that stupid ginger beard off.
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GoingUp added 16:50 - Feb 19 Show it then talk is cheap. Are boys are better than 95% if league one squads give it some!
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dirtydingusmagee added 16:51 - Feb 19 if you cant do anything else at least spare us the bullsh#t .
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Len_Brennan added 16:54 - Feb 19 I feel sorry for Teddy, that he was the one wheeled out for this interview, but that's just plainly untrue. What we have been talking about for months was bad enough; then the banishing of Nolan & Jackson and then to compound it by his public comments about them, while trying to hide behind not saying their names, as he goes about trying to offload them blame elsewhere, in a scattergun method. Pathetic & cowardly. Those who still support Lambert, most of whom have gone silent on here in recent weeks, are trapped by their own comments history & are unwilling to accept that they got this one very wrong.

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StavangerBlue added 17:03 - Feb 19 When he says behind the manager he means literally. Behind PL, making bunny rabbit ears and other hand gestures.
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happybeingblue added 17:16 - Feb 19 never lived up to the hype need to produce more in 90 mins than a little flick here or there,hes too unreliable not strong enough to play centre midfield at this level,similar to luke hyam fails to deliver injury prone ,we need new faces who will be fit going forward
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Cloddyseedbed added 17:34 - Feb 19 Please don't tell Porkies. No they are not. Clear for all supporters to see and now Lambert is airing all the squad dirty washing in public.
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istanblue added 17:56 - Feb 19 Looks like Lambert had his hand up Bishop's arse.
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jas0999 added 18:00 - Feb 19 Rubbish!
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bluearmy4life added 18:09 - Feb 19 💩💩💩💩
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have_a_word_with_him added 18:48 - Feb 19 hahahahahaahahahahahaahahahaaa
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sixtyblue added 18:53 - Feb 19 Where's the manager while these players have freedom to talk to the press.I presume Lambert give them permission as long as they say nice things about him.
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Skip73 added 19:18 - Feb 19 Everyone is behind the manager except the most impotant people - the fans. But of course they dont count.
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Billericay12 added 19:36 - Feb 19 Just playing lip service. What else can he say if asked ? Lambert out !!! Won't do much for his game time. Did he Burst on to the scene ? Must have missed that. Burst into the treatment room maybe !😂
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ringwoodblue added 20:56 - Feb 19 I'm tired of players talking off the pitch, they need to do their talking on it.
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dyersdream added 21:04 - Feb 19 What a load of cr@p
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shakytown added 22:24 - Feb 19 Has to say this rubbish or its off to the under 23's. Terrible manager who just needs to go ASAP.
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