Ipswich Town v Sheffield Wednesday: We need fans to push the players at times, says Carvalhal

The tactic has worked a treat at key junctures and instigated the response that he was looking for from his players. He will be hoping that it is a case of Groundhog Day ahead of trips to Ipswich Town and Reading.

Booed off by sections of Owls supporters at the final whistle of the 0-0 weekend home draw with Bristol City, Carvalhal claimed that the mood made his side “nervous” and urged fans to show patience and keep the faith.

Carvalhal also fired a broadside in the direction of refereeing officials after seeing his side fail to earn a spot-kick for a 33rd consecutive match.

As with everything regarding Carvalhal, a canny and strategic managerial operator, his observations are not based purely on emotion; they possess an element of timing.

He said: “We are fighting and we are resilient. We are in 10th, two or three points from the top six. We are not far away from the first positions.

“If the environment is positive, it sometimes helps. If the environment is not, the players lose confidence.

“A big part of our responsibility is to push the crowd. But we understand that we need, sometimes, our fans to push the players.

“When you are with a positive environment and you make a mistake and you do a tribute to a player with a mistake, he can go again and he can feel the confidence again.

“When you have an environment where you do a mistake and the answer is a boo, most of the players will not try again.”

Many would venture that an away double-header is no bad thing this week, in the circumstances, with a leading player in Ross Wallace having claimed that playing away currently suits the Owls’ playing style better.

Carvalhal insists there is no particular issue with playing at home, but acknowledges that the dynamics of away support can create a much more together environment at times.

He added: “I am not saying they (home and away supporters) love the club more than others, but they follow the club to everywhere. They have a big passion and they put that in their voices and we feel that when we go away.

“When we play Hillsborough maybe the (vocal) fans are a little more spread, it is a little different. But we prefer to play at home and it is not a problem.”

Last six games: Ipswich LLWLWD Sheffield Wednesday LLDWWD.

Referee: K Stroud (Hants).

Last time: Ipswich 0 Sheffield Wednesday 1; April 29, 2016; Championship.