Joe Royle today issued a 'get behind the team' message to Ipswich Town fans.The Town boss admitted Wigan's 3-1 weekend win at Portman Road was hard to swallow.

Joe Royle today issued a 'get behind the team' message to Ipswich Town fans.

The Town boss admitted Wigan's 3-1 weekend win at Portman Road was hard to swallow.

But he has called on supporters to forget past glories and back the Blues' faltering promotion bid.

Ipswich dropped out of the top six while their opponents leap-frogged them into third place in the Nationwide League First Division table.

That was the prize the Blues were playing for when the televised game kicked off, but particularly in the first half they turned in a dreadful performance that left supporters questioning if Royle's squad is good enough to advance to the Premiership.

And some Ipswich players were barracked by the fans.

Royle said: "We suffered a near-death experience a few months ago. We are on the way back to recovery but it will be a slow process and unlike Wigan there will be no money to spend for some while yet.

"I appreciate that our fans will find it hard as the club was playing in Europe last season and in the Premiership just before then.

"But this is the time to get behind the team. We must forget the past and look to the future, but it may take time.

"This is not a period when cynicism and negativity should be to the fore."

The manager added: "We are still going for automatic promotion and despite Saturday's worrying reverse the players are here."