Ian Foster: Plymouth Argyle boss unaffected by fan criticism after poor run

Plymouth Argyle have struggled to create goalscoring chances in recent weeks

Plymouth Argyle head coach Ian Foster says criticism of his side's recent performances does not affect him.

The Pilgrims have taken just four points from a possible 21 and have failed to score in four of their past five Championship matches.

Argyle are two points above the relegation places with 10 games left.

"What I would always assure the supporters is that as a group of staff and a group of players we give everything we can," Foster said.

"We maximise our efforts to go and win games of football for Plymouth Argyle

"From a personal perspective I've moved my family here from overseas, I've not done that lightly, I've done that because I'm desperate to do well for this football club and I'll continue to do that.

"I get that supporters become frustrated with the lack of wins at the moment, but some of the messaging doesn't affect how we work and how we prepare for games."

Former England Under-19s boss Foster joined the club as head coach in early January after a spell as assistant manager to Steven Gerrard at Saudi Arabian side Al Ettifaq.

He was unbeaten in his first five games and guided Argyle to their first away win of the season, at Swansea City, in early February.

Ian Foster has won three and lost six of the 12 league games he has been in charge for

But since then Argyle have won just one - a 2-0 victory at Middlesbrough - having encountered promotion hopefuls such as Leeds United, West Bromwich Albion and Ipswich Town.

Fans were left particularly frustrated by the home loss to West Brom, when Argyle failed to have a shot on target, while the 1-0 loss at struggling Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday was also not well received.

"It's disappointing that some of it does go over the top," Foster said.

"I don't read it, I ask people not to tell me what it is, because it doesn't affect how we pick teams, it doesn't affect how we go into games, it doesn't affect our tactical approach to anything, it doesn't affect principally how we play.

"We've just got to make sure that the supporters that are right behind us stay right behind us and that the fans show a little bit of patience with the group that are trying their best to win games of football for the club.

"The only thing that'll appease any football fan is they want to see the team win, and until the team win there'll be frustrations, and I respect that.

"We've just got to go and try and win games of football, and we try and win every game of football - trust me I never go into a game looking at damage limitation or 'let's get a point out of this one'. It's never that, we always try and win every game of football.

"Sometimes we're capable of doing it and sometimes we;'re not, but the only way to appease any football fan is to win the next game."

Meanwhile Foster has added former Huddersfield Town and Sheffield Wednesday coach Simon Ireland to his backroom team.

Ireland, who has also worked at Brighton and Hove Albion, Nottingham Forest and Queens Park Rangers, has agreed a deal until the end of the season.