5:38pm Tuesday 16th March 2010
By Frank Smith
Watford manager Malky Mackay has called on the Vicarage Road crowd to “keep the faith” going into tonight’s game with Ipswich Town.
Recent defeats to Swansea City and Peterborough United have ended with sections of the home crowd booing the players off the pitch.
Following Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Peterborough, Mackay was asked if he had a message for the Watford supporters.
He replied: “I absolutely understand but keep the faith because you have been fantastic all season and you have been watching young players put their all in all season and that doesn’t stop when the results are not going our way, they are still giving their all for the club.
“I said earlier in the season that fans will accept mistakes but they won’t accept a lack of effort in the jersey. I don’t think to this day they have seen a lack of effort in the jersey.
“There have been mistakes but there have also been times this season where those young players have played some wonderful stuff and had some great performances.
“I would ask they get right behind us, as they have done all season, and keep the faith.”
Watford have lost their last four matches and have not scored in their previous three games.
This has led to the Hornets slipping to 19th place, just one point above the drop zone.
But despite their poor form, Mackay insists the players are desperate to return to Championship action tonight.
He said: “If I see them not applying themselves out there then I have a problem but I see them at it every day in training applying themselves and in games.
“It has been split-second decisions that have changed our games recently. They are desperate to get back out there on Tuesday night and I am glad we have a game four days after our last one because as a player, when you are frustrated and disappointed with a performances and a game, you want to play right away and fortunately we have that coming up on Tuesday night.
“So they are desperate to get out there again and do their best for themselves and their club.”
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