ROMAIN Vincelot insists City face a real fight to get the fans back onside.

The team were blasted with chants of “you’re not fit to wear the shirt” during Saturday’s 5-0 surrender at Blackpool.

The large away following vented their fury after an 11th defeat in the last 14 games – their heaviest loss of the season.

City host third-placed Shrewsbury on Thursday, the first of five at Valley Parade in the next three weeks, and Vincelot knows they face a battle to win over the crowd again.

He said: “It’s more about the performance and the way we act. You look at the games against Wigan or Gillingham and they were right behind when we lost and won.

“It’s about the attitude of the team and getting the standards that they expect.

“I understand their anger. You have to accept it and take it on the chin.

“We have to use it as motivation to show that we are much better players than that.”

Vincelot suffered a deep cut in his right knee in the build-up to Blackpool’s fourth goal and will be a doubt for the televised clash.

But Simon Grayson is already threatening major changes after blowing his top over the shocking effort at the weekend.

Vincelot added: “He has every right to do what he thinks is right for us to try to win a game.

“He was right to be angry. It must be very frustrating for him to watch what is happening.

“Shrewsbury is as tough as it could be but we have to focus on ourselves.

“Each individual has to look in the mirror and remember what our standards are.

“We must see the bigger picture. We have such a good job as footballers, playing for a big club in front of a big crowd and we have to show more passion.”

City have won just once since New Year’s Day – a slump that cost Stuart McCall his job at the start of February and successor Grayson has struggled to halt the slide.

“There are obviously things that have gone wrong at the club but us as players have to go past that at some point,” said Vincelot.

“We can’t keep going back to that. We have to find a way to put that behind us, look forward and try to relish the games that are left.

“Blackpool was one of those games that just passed in front of you. It was like being a spectator first half.

“Maybe back in France, I might have had a performance like that but it is very rare for anything to happen like that here – and certainly not at this club. I don’t have any explanation or excuses.

“It’s nowhere near the standards from the first half of the season.

“I don’t know the reason. You can’t be precise and put your finger on any one thing.

“This is where football is tough for the fans and for us. We need to get out there and find a solution to win games and be respectful to the shirt.”