Aston Villa defender Richard Dunne has called on the fans who are planning a protest against manager Alex McLeish to unite behind the team in Sunday's crucial Barclays Premier League clash with Tottenham.
The match is Villa's final home game of the season and some supporters are planning to voice their views with 'McLeish Out' protests following the side's recent slump in form.
A section of Villa fans also took out a small back page advert in today's Birmingham Mail.
The advert funded by a website run by Villa fans stated: "We were really hoping never to say this but....WE TOLD YOU SO. 'Bright Future?"'
There was no direct mention in the advert of McLeish but some sections of supporters called for him to be sacked during and after the home defeat against Bolton 11 days ago.
The Claret and Blues have not won in their last eight games and are just three points above the relegation zone.
To add to Villa's woes, midfielders Fabian Delph and Chris Herd and defender James Collins were disciplined internally by the club after they were involved in an altercation outside a nightclub in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
However, despite this, Dunne hopes the Villa Park faithful will throw their support behind the team.
"The fans want success and it's very difficult for everybody to understand why we're down there," Dunne told the Birmingham Mail.
"The situation has evolved over the season, which has caused the problems, and we need the fans.
"Everybody understands the frustrations, they're not happy with us as players and the management and the club as a whole.
"But we need the supporters because they want to watch Premier League football next season. The best thing they can do is support us and whatever happens, happens after that.
"We just need the fans to stick with us. We know ourselves it's not been good enough at times, but the effort is always there.
"For the last three weeks we need to pull in the same direction, we don't want anyone to think we're not doing our best.
"We want everyone to support us so that we can get out of this together."
Stephen Ireland could return for Villa after recovering from a hip injury and a more recent hamstring problem but striker Emile Heskey (Achilles) is still a doubt.
Tottenham midfielder Scott Parker is making a good recovery from his ankle injury and should be fit. Kyle Walker broke a toe during Wednesday's win over Bolton but will play after having a pain-killing injection.
Spurs recently went on a dismal run of one win in nine league games but they have enjoyed a mini-revival of late, registering back-to-back victories over Blackburn and Bolton to move back in to the top four with two games left.
Rafael van der Vaart has been key to the turnaround, scoring in their last two matches to end what he thinks was a difficult time for him at the club.
The 29-year-old, who has been a revelation since signing for Spurs in August 2010, claims he has been under-performing recently and has also been troubled by niggling injuries.
"When we win it is easy and everyone says you're great, but when you lose, we have to look in the mirror and be critical of ourselves," he told Spurs TV Online.
"I had a few games that were really bad and you can't help the team then. I am happy everything has changed now.
"I can do more, I think. I am a player that has to play well to say something. When I play bad it is difficult to say something.
"But on the pitch I want to help everybody. Everybody is working together - Emmanuel Adebayor up front is an amazing striker for me and the whole team. It is great to play with him."
As well as a dismal run of form in the league, Spurs had to endure the humiliation of a 5-1 thrashing in their FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea at Wembley, although the Blues were aided by a goal that should never have been given.
Van der Vaart revealed that a team meeting following the drubbing was part of the reason why Spurs have performed better of late.
"We spoke (after the semi-final). We said we have to stay together, especially in difficult times and play as a team," the former Real Madrid man said.
"It is not important to play well, but to fight. Then the wins come."
Source: PA
Source: PA