FORMER Ipswich star James Scowcroft today condemned Blues fans for their treatment of Sam Parkin.Scowcroft explained his disbelief at the treatment handed out to the 24-year-old striker who joined Town for £550,000 from Swindon during the summer.

By Elvin King

FORMER Ipswich star James Scowcroft today condemned Blues fans for their treatment of Sam Parkin.

Scowcroft explained his disbelief at the treatment handed out to the 24-year-old striker who joined Town for £550,000 from Swindon during the summer.

Suffolk-born Scowcroft was a member of the Coventry side that came back from 2-0 down to earn a Championship point at Portman Road last night.

Leading scorer with four goals, Parkin was dropped but came on for the injured Kevin Horlock at the interval with the score 2-1.

Almost immediately he was the subject of abuse by the boo boys in the stands.

Scowcroft said: “The fans were horrible to Sam. I could not believe what I was hearing.

“I have always considered Ipswich fans to be fair, and they have always supported me.

“It puts the player under so much extra pressure, and I hope it stops.”

Scowcroft, who played on loan for Ipswich towards the end of last season, joined Coventry from Leicester during the summer.

He was given his usual warm reception by Ipswich fans before helping the Sky Blues fight back from 2-0 down. The atmosphere around the ground last night

suggests patience may be running thin among supporters brought up on a diet of the Premiership or the top six in the Championship.

Kevin Horlock said he could sense it. The Ipswich midfielder, who is a doubt for Saturday's home match with Watford and underwent X-rays on a rib injury today, admitted: “The players could sense that not all was right with our fans. It made for a nervous start before we got going.

“After being 2-0 up we should have gone on and won.”

Scowcroft, who came through the youth ranks at Ipswich, is certain Ipswich have a rosy future.

He added: “They have been through this before a number of times and regrouped.

“Losing out on the play-offs is not new, but the club had to pay a price with the moving on of some players.

“Fans must be patient. Things will change and with the quality of the youth players at the club the future looks bright. We conceded two poor goals from set pieces, but were then given a lifeline by

scoring just before the interval.”

Horlock and Owen Garvan both went off early with injuries, with the former hurting his ribs and the latter on crutches with a leg injury.

Both are doubtful for the Watford game on Saturday.

“I did not get a kick or anything but suddenly felt a pain in my rib area,” said Horlock.

“I did get a blow in the ribs on Sunday at Reading and it must have been a reaction to that,” he added.