Leeds United striker Patrick Bamford has claimed that him and his teammates are hurting more than the fans after a shocking month which has seen them concede 23 goals across their last eight matches.
Yesterday's 4-1 loss to Bournemouth compounded statistically the worst 30-day period of the Whites' campaign so far, with the star's goal against the Cherries just one of eight scored in April.
But while fans serenaded the players with a 'You're not fit to wear the shirt' chant after full-time, the 29-year-old called for them to stick with the players for their last four games of the season.
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"We're deflated. We knew we would have a big advantage if we came here and won," Bamford told BBC Sport after the game. "It is quiet in the dressing room but Luke Ayling said it, that we're not in the bottom three at the minute and we have four more games.
"We have to do what we have to do to pick up points from somewhere. When you are down there, mistakes seem to come more and more frequent. You get punished at this level. It is about sticking together.
"In general in the first half, we controlled it quite well apart from that four-minute spell. Two mistakes and we get punished. That is a running theme at the minute. We get back into it and knew we had to push on. But the third goal saw it off. We have to bounce back.
"In this run of games, where we have shipped a few goals, people are maybe a bit fragile. We have to find a way, as experienced players, of getting the group together. We have been through it, we know what we need to do, it is about dragging everyone with us.
"The fans have travelled a long way and they are hurting as much as we are. Well, maybe not as much as we are. But they have the right to voice an opinion. One thing I would say is to stick with us because we are going to need you.
"There are four games left and we need to do something. Stick with us and we can do it together."
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