STAR defender Nathan Clarke believes fan power can help get Town's League I campaign back on course.

The 21-year-old centre-back was worried to hear a section of fans booing at the end of Saturday's 1-1 home draw with Torquay.

And he insisted: "It was just as frustrating for us as it was for you."

A crowd of 9,194, Town's lowest League gate of the season, turned out on a foul day for a game which had been under threat because of structural damage to the Stadium's main entrance.

Safety officials gave the game the go-ahead after the affected area was cordoned off, and after going ahead though Efe Sodje in the 23rd minute, dominant Town looked to be on course for a crucial victory.

But Torquay levelled with their only real chance of the game, forward Kevin Hill shooting home from 20 yards in the 55th minute.

It left Town, without 17-goal top scorer Pawel Abbott through illness, 13th, seven places and eight points off the play-off zone, and with only two wins in their last 12 League games.

"We're going through a rough patch, but we're giving it 100%, both in matches and on the training field, and it was a bit disappointing to hear the booing at the end," said Clarke.

"We had a great season last time, ending with a fantastic day down in Cardiff for the play-off final, and it's easy to forget how much progress we've made since the club almost closed.

"Perhaps we've all been spoiled a little, and having moved into a higher division with better and richer clubs, we're holding our own.

"Of course as players, we want to do much better than that, and at times like this, when we don't seem to be getting much luck, we really need the supporters to stick with us.

"You hear players say good backing is like having a 12th man and it's spot-on.

"We go to Barnsley on Saturday for a big derby and it would be great to think we'll take a really good following who will get behind us.

"There's a lot still to play for this season, and a win over there would get us going again."

Barnsley boss Paul Hart, whose team didn't have a game, watched Saturday's Galpharm clash, and Clarke added: "We put them under a lot of pressure and created a host of chances.

"John McAliskey hit the post and their keeper made a great late save from Chris Brandon. On another day, one of those would have gone in."