Source: Northern_Echo
Wheater urges fans to go easy on boss
DAVID WHEATER has called on the Middlesbrough fans to lay off manager Gareth Southgate, believing any criticism should be directed at the players.
The Boro captain insists that last weeks reaction during and after the 1-0 home defeat by Leicester City was over the top, and he has given his wholehearted backing to the under-fire boss.
Saturdays win at Reading left Middlesbrough one point behind second-placed West Brom, and Wheater admits the players must blank out any criticism and get on with the task of getting the side back into the Premier League.
Sometimes the reaction is over the top, especially when they are saying stuff about the manager.
It is not him thats out on the pitch, its the players. If were not playing well were the ones who should be blamed, said Wheater.
Ive felt it more because I go out in the area and I am always around the fans.
The criticism weve had you cant let it get to you.
You cant let it get into your head because it might affect the way you play. You may end up trying too hard in the next game you play.
You really just cant listen to it. What we all have to do is listen to the manager.
He knows his stuff. He shows us where weve gone wrong in recent games and he shows us what he wants from us in training.
We showed at Reading what we can do and how well we can play.
Wheater believes the relative success of the past has given some fans unrealistic expectations of where Middlesbrough should be.
Signing the likes of Gaizka Mendieta, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, and Mark Viduka in recent years has reinforced that opinion.
Maybe with some of the players weve had in the past people think were a massive club, said the 22-year-old.
What we are is a hardworking club and we know were not going to be top of the Premier League.
We just need to keep working hard and try to get back into the Premier League.
I think a lot of the lads would have taken that at this stage of the season. Were third in the league, just one point behind West Brom.
Were doing well. Weve had a few bad results but youll get them.
Southgate himself remains focused on promotion back to the topflight and praised his players and the backroom staff for their response to the events of last week.
Everything is geared towards getting this football club back into the Premier League, said Southgate.
What we have to do is prove we have the desire and the ability to do just that.
Saturday was a step towards that.
I am pleased for everyone at the club at the end of what has been a difficult week.
The players responded with a calmness and unity.
Some supporters have expressed their displeasure, which I have accepted. Our job is to manage the club through difficult times.
Its easy to manage when things are going well but the margins between success and failure are so small.
We have seen from the results so far this season that there will be a lot of toing and fro-ing in the league positions.
But we are catching the top teams, and with two home games coming up we have to try and take advantage.
Since the West Brom game (5-0 defeat) they have taken only one point and Newcastle have drawn at home twice in the past week.
