McCall: Fans must back Higdon

28 September 2011 16:24
Motherwell manager Stuart McCall has urged supporters to get behind Michael Higdon following criticism of the striker in the win over Aberdeen.[LNB] Higdon, who has scored four goals since his summer move from St Mirren, struggled to retain possession or make an impact during a tight Scottish Premier League encounter at Fir Park.[LNB]McCall's decision to take off Jamie Murphy was met with boos but replacement Bob McHugh scored a late winner and McCall later revealed he kept Higdon on the park to defend set-pieces against a taller Dons team.[LNB]In his regular email to supporters, McCall said: "I understand there were some disgruntled voices and I don't mind that coming to myself in terms of team selections, substitutions, whether I've got ginger hair or wearing shorts, it doesn't matter.[LNB]"I've been in football now for 40 years, watching, playing, scouting and managing, and I have never, ever - not even once - seen any situation where a crowd are getting on top of a player and it doing him any good.[LNB]"I didn't enjoy hearing it when I stood on the terraces at Elland Road as a kid, I hated it when one of my team-mates was getting abuse when I played the game, and certainly don't enjoy it when I am a manager and one of my players is getting it to the point where it is putting him off his game.[LNB]"If you use your common sense, and I know it is frustrating, there is no logical way that any individual will respond positively to personal abuse.[LNB]"I am not stupid, I know it goes on at every club but I want us here at Motherwell to rise above it.[LNB]"This is our team, we all want to win a game of football and the very best way is to get behind the lads and support them when things aren't going well."

Source: Team_Talk