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‘I don’t like that’ – Rob Edwards calls out own fans in defence of player during interview

Rob Edwards calls out his own fans in defence of Middlesbrough player Morgan Whittaker during his post-match interview.

In the 2-2 draw with Preston, Middlesbrough fans sarcastically cheered as £5 million signing Whittaker was substituted.

Replaced by Sverre Nypan in the 66th minute, Whittaker saw his substitute score an equalizer, with Sonte Hansen securing a point.

24-year-old Whittaker signed for Boro from Plymouth for £5 million in January, but has struggled to find the net, although has two assists this season for the Championship leaders.

Edwards addressed the fans’ reaction in an interview on Boro’s Twitter, urging for them to support the player.

Edwards said: “The fans were incredible and we thank them for their support. I do have to say one thing though. I don’t want to see that response when I’m making a substitution. I don’t like that.

“We’re a family and if we’re going to achieve something, if we’re going to progress and move forward, then us, the staff, the players and the fans, all of us, we’ve got to be together.

“Morgan has, from day one of us coming in, been brilliant. He’s been committed and he has worked so, so hard.

“We’ve got to protect him and we’ve got to love him. I don’t want to see that because I don’t think it helps us at all.

“So, I appreciate the support and I absolutely love our fans. I understand that everyone is entitled to their opinions, but whilst we’re in this moment and we’re undefeated and everything feels good, we have to look after our own.

“He loves playing for this football club and he is giving everything at the moment. I’ve got to stress that. We protect our own and we look after our own.”

Edwards spoke on the game, per Sky Sports: “We didn’t go flat. We went straight back on the front foot after conceding and went after the equaliser which we got and then we tried to win the game which we weren’t able to do.

“If you aren’t able to win it, then you can’t lose it. I loved the reaction from the team both times after going behind. We didn’t show disappointment. We got on with it.

“We knew it was going to happen at some stage. It’s happened now and we’ve come back a couple of times and got something out of the game at a difficult place to go.”

Preston’s Paul Heckingbottom: “We knew before the game we didn’t have it (goal-line technology). It’s just Sod’s law that decides the game.

“I’m hoping someone shows me a photo of it crossing the line to make me feel better, because I can’t see at the minute how it crossed the line.

“The linesman gives it and it’s old fashioned, but I’ve just got no trust in the officials at the minute because they try and give everything, don’t they?

“They try to give fouls when there’s nothing there to be seen, so I’m hoping I get some video footage that makes me sleep better.”

Here’s how Twitter users reacted as Rob Edwards calls out his own fans in defence of player Morgan Whittaker during the post-match interview…

@nathrover1985: Fans often don’t realise the part they play! I’ve been in some toxic away ends and constantly say it don’t help! We may agree or disagree and we’re entitled to, we pay the money! But I think his got a point, there’s a way to go about it

@19andrew85: More managers should be like this and call out the helmets who spit their dummies out at the first opportunity

@DanTheCools: I so frustrated with Morgan Whitaker and was happy we subbed him but I’d never boo my own players, I’d also never throw a fucking flare on the pitch for an equaliser and kill our momentum.

@AndrewBryantuk: Totally agree with him! It is a minority of boro fans who always have to pick on someone. The lad is probably trying to hard to impress because of the criticism he is getting!

@georgeha11: Incredible from Rob Edwards, booing your own subs is counterproductive and doesn’t achieve anything except translating negativity onto the pitch. Boro had a great start to the season but the first time they go behind this is the reaction? Football fans of all clubs are a joke

@PhilSpenc23: Very brave but Rob Edwards has earned the right to speak like this after rebuilding the relationship between club and fans. Had Carrick done it last season the reaction might have been a little bit different!

@TenManStoke: Don’t know the context for this but Boro fans booing one of their own players when their top of the league is outrageous tbf

@baggie1971: Fair play to Edwards, when these things have to be said I’d rather have a manager that speaks . Not sure why boro fans are doing anything like this in their current position. Christ knows what they will say when they have a bad period

@JYaj: 💯💯💯 And I’ll never boo one of our players. But it’s also fair to say / ask that he starts delivering more on the pitch

@SCOLLLLL: He had a really poor game but you achieve absolutely 0 good doing that to one of your players. Made me feel uncomfortable when it happened to Iheanacho last season (and he was useless in a piss poor team) We’re clearly a decent side this season with a lot going for us, enjoy it 🤷🏻‍♂️

@sarahfinn8: Clever this from Rob tbf. He knows he can get away with calling the fans out right now and uses it for good. Another example of him not putting a foot wrong in this job so far as far as I am concerned!! 👏🏻👏🏻

@shiggy1981: No matter how bad a player is, to cheer when he’s taken off and/or boo and heckle him as he’s going off is just beyond belief. Fucking doyles man.

@Boroandthat: He’s right. Booing players used to be reserved for Judas behaviour and not much else. A couple of below average performances shouldn’t warrant it. Helps nobody. Ridiculous.

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