FIACRE Kelleher is not enjoying City’s sticky spell right now but he’s known far worse.

The big Irishman is yet to play on a winning side since stepping into the back four to replace injured skipper Niall Canavan.

It is a source of frustration which Kelleher is keen to put right with Rochdale’s visit to Valley Parade this weekend.

But there is also a sense of perspective with the centre half after his previous experiences with Macclesfield – and the times when the team played on without getting paid.

Kelleher said: “I know that there are worse scenarios than this.

“I’m at a big club and a place where I’m getting my lunch and breakfast. That wasn’t happening at Macclesfield.

“We didn’t get any food and you’d get a text the night before as to where you’d be training in the morning. That changed every day and often the manager was having to pay for it.

“I played 10 or 11 games when I hadn’t been paid for three weeks.

“You can go one or two ways after what happened at Macclesfield. I left home and came over here and to not be paid, you wonder if it’s worth it.

“But it definitely is. I knew my love for the game was there.

“This means more to me than just money, it’s a way of life. I love football and being on the pitch every day.

“I want to show I can be part of this club and help it where it should be.”

That’s why recent results have hurt – and Kelleher had no complaints when Derek Adams tore a strip off his side after last week’s dismal showing at Crawley.

“I don’t think any one of us who were out on the pitch last week can argue against what he said.

“He was well within his rights. We were completely below standard.

“Training the week before had gone really well and we were looking sharp and good. Then come Saturday to perform the way we did was really frustrating.

“His words were justified but luckily we have this chance to make it right.

“It’s about making sure we start the game nice and bright, full of energy and get after the ball and take it to them.”

Kelleher admits he is yet to show his best to the City fans and can understand why they are growing restless the longer the run goes without a win.

“I’m usually very dominant in the air but last week I lost too many headers and I need to defend the box better than I have been.

“When you see fans get frustrated, we’re obviously feeling it as well. You just have to try work past it and get things going.

“The Salford game hurt the most. You’re always told the last five to 10 minutes are the most critical and you have to be switched on.

“To concede from a set-piece as well, as a defender I take that on my shoulders.

“But if we can get a win being back at home, everybody gets that feelgood factor. We’ve been missing that for the last few weeks.

“You start feeling it in the stadium when you’re playing and the crowd go a bit quiet.

“Because they are so loud at times, you can really feel it when they are not roaring you on. We know we’ve got to give it everything.

“You can try too hard in times like this and you start second-guessing things you’re doing. It can play with your head.

“You’ve got to strip it all back and get back to that place where you just have to be better than the man you’re up against and hope everyone else does the same.”