SHANE Supple today asked Ipswich Town fans not to judge the team on their last two dreadful performances.

SHANE Supple today asked Ipswich Town fans not to judge the team on their last two dreadful performances, writes Elvin King.

The 18-year-old goalkeeper stood his ground and said: “We will get through this.”

Saturday's 4-1 home Championship defeat to a run-of-the-mill Stoke City side was too much for many Blues supporters to bear.

They had left in droves by the time Luke Chadwick and ex-Norwich City player Darel Russell converted late goals to embellish a Stoke win.

Meant to be an advertisement to entice Ipswich followers to book season tickets before the cut-price deadline ends on Thursday, the 90 minutes ended up as the precise opposite.

Supple has no excuses. He said: “It was a shocking display, and that is two weeks on the trot we have been dreadful.

“We all know it is not good enough and I would like to apologise to our fantastic fans who deserve much better.

“We cannot put our finger on the problem, but what I can say is that we will get through this. n From back page

“There is so much hope for next season, and despite the frustrations of this season we are not a bad team.

“We have four games left to give our fans something to take with them into the summer. They deserve that.”

Supple is one of the young hopefuls Ipswich are putting their faith in to bringing the good times back.

To be frank there has been precious little evidence of a better 2006/07 in the last six games that have brought no wins.

The actions of supporters over the next three days will have a huge bearing on the success or failure of Ipswich Town over the next few years.

Big decisions by all who hold the club dear to their hearts now have to be made.

The dire consequences of reduced sales has been well recorded.

Supple was part of a team meeting this morning with the manager.

“The gaffer said after the game on Saturday that he would see us when we went in today,” added Supple. “We all had our say in the dressing room. We were up for the game, but we did not gel and we did not pass.”

Ipswich have a home game against relegation certainties Brighton on Saturday, and then visit play-off contestants Watford on Easter Monday.

Town legend Kevin Beattie was not well enough to receive a replica of his 1974 PFA young player of the year trophy on Saturday after the original was lost in a fire.

He was at the ground, and the presentation will be made before one of the two remaining home matches.

A reminder of what Ipswich have achieved in the past, Beattie could only look on and witness one of the worst Town home displays.