SWINDON Town manager Richie Wellens has told supporters they can help the club achieve something this season as long as the negativity that blighted large parts of Tuesday night’s 1-0 win over Stevenage comes to an end.

Before the midweek clash, Town were winless in their previous five games in all competitions and many fans were becoming restless at the abject performances that often preceded negative results, especially given how well Wellens’ men had started the season.

But while a Town side, whose confidence levels were clearly nowhere near those of the team that dispatched their League Two rivals in August and September, battled to dig out a result against bottom side Stevenage, negative shouts and grumbles of discontent filtered their way down to the ears of the Swindon manager.

Wellens was clearly frustrated by this as he gave an impassioned speech post-match that called on Town fans to get behind their team and change the ‘down on our luck’ culture that blights match-going supporters.

He said: “I don’t want to make a big thing about it, but if you want to support your club, we can achieve something this year.

“If we don’t, then it becomes more difficult for the players to play in that environment.

“I don’t want to hear supporters saying: ‘this is rubbish’, we’ve won the game. It’s just not nice to hear.

“It doesn’t bother me, but if I’m the same distance away from the crowd as the players and they’re hearing that, what’s that going to do?

“We want to give them confidence to go and play because there are some good players here.”

The Town manager also revealed he owns a season ticket at Manchester United and when he is afforded the chance, Wellens heads up to Old Trafford with his eight-year-old son to cheer on an out-of-sorts Red Devils team.

The 39-year-old reasoned that while there may not be too many similarities for fans of the two clubs, the one thing they will always have in common is an ability to throw their support behind their teams, no matter what the current run of form looks like.

Wellens said: “When I go up to Old Trafford, I’m not there to moan. I understand that they’re going through a transitional period and Ole is under a little bit of pressure.

“The point is, I’m a supporter as well and I get it. But did the players give everything on Tuesday? I think they did.

“When we played Plymouth in the EFL Trophy, it looked like the players’ body language wasn’t great.

“We got booed off that night, and I totally understood it.

“But the players on Tuesday gave everything, and it’s difficult to play against a block of five and a block of four – it is really difficult.

“If the supporters are on your side, you believe in yourself to stay patient because the chances will come.

“If the supporters get a little bit negative, that player starts forcing things and then that is to the detriment of the team because the other team starts to grow into the game and create chances.”