Town skipper Luke Chambers has leapt to the defence of under-fire colleague Jonathan Douglas after supporters made him the number one target of their frustration at the team’s recent lack of success.

Mick McCarthy’s men go into tomorrow’s visit of Douglas's former club Blackburn Rovers having registered just three wins from their last 11 home games in all competitions, a run that has tried supporters’ patience and turned the Portman Road atmosphere toxic at times.

Things reached an all-time low when experienced midfielder Douglas, 35, was subjected to loud boos upon his introduction from the bench, with 21 minutes left for play, in the 2-1 defeat at QPR earlier this month.

Chambers said: “Jonathan has had a hard time of it. He’s getting abused when he comes on. Why would anyone ever want to play for the club again if you are running on to the pitch as a sub and you’re getting booed by your own supporters?

“I don’t get it. If that was me I’d be thinking ‘I think it’s time for me to leave now.’ How do you come back from that? The only good thing is that it doesn’t seem to have affected Jonathan because he’s such a strong character.

“He’s been here, there and everywhere, he’s been successful in his career and he’s played hundreds of games.

“But I still don’t see how that treatment of a player is going to benefit anyone. It’s just letting the frustrations of the situation we find ourselves in come through on to the pitch.”

Chambers, 31, admits he is close to Douglas, but he added: “We’re all close in there. When you’re a player, and one of your team-mates is getting that sort of stick, you think it’s unwarranted and unacceptable.

“But you’re never going to win a fight if you’re picking it with the fans. They are entitled to voice their opinion.

“The lads appreciate what Jonathan does for the team and what he’s done in a very difficult time for us.

“For me it’s very, very disappointing, and it was especially disappointing during the game at QPR.

“When he came on it was no small thing. I think the lads almost went ‘Hold on a minute, what’s happening here?’ It’s never a good thing during a game.

“We need to try to be pulling in the same direction, regardless, and I know we’re not playing well at the minute.

“We just need to try to stick together and get ourselves through this difficult period because it’s a long season and as much as everyone is getting frustrated we need to try to stick on the same page and try to get ourselves of this — it’s not a mess — difficult period that we’re having.

“Jonathan will laugh and brush it off, but everyone goes through periods in their careers where they’re singled out or become scapegoats. He hasn’t got any other thoughts on it than that and he’s probably been made to feel pretty crap.

“But we’re backing him and we know that when he’s called upon he’ll do a job for the team.

“People are going to have their opinions and that’s what football is all about. Everyone’s got an opinion, whether they’re right or not, but you generally tend to hear the negative opinions the most.”

While the fans’ frame of mind may be largely negative, however, Chambers insists there is still plenty of positivity in the dressing room. Asked about the mood in the camp, he replied: “It’s probably where it should be at the minute. We’re not overly pleased with ourselves.

“Half the season has gone and we’re not pleased with our result last week (against Lincoln) so we’re looking to put things right and try to get a sustained run together. Unfortunately, that’s something we haven’t managed to do so far.”

Photo: TWTD

Kentish_Tractor added 18:14 - Jan 13 They've made a mistake in the article title. They've written "abuse" instead of "inclusion".
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Corrick91 added 18:14 - Jan 13 Give Knudsen the abuse, worst player at the club
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Michael11 added 18:16 - Jan 13 I actually do feel sorry for Douglas and agree with Chambers. He's absolutely trash as we all know, but he's being picked by the manager so it's not his fault. I genuinely don't think we've ever played him in his natural position higher up the pitch either. He'd probably be just as bad but I think it was very harsh to boo him onto the pitch.
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tractorboytedwardo19 added 18:20 - Jan 13 I think the booing wasn't entirely aimed at dougie. More when he was subbed on at qpr, fans were booing to show their frustration at the choice of player being subbed on in that game. A negative sub in a winnable game
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itsonlyme added 18:21 - Jan 13 Why boo one of your own players. I am not a Douglas fan but I would never ever boo my own player! It is disgreceful and those of you who do boo should hang your heads in shame!
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MacMan added 18:21 - Jan 13 Give Knudsen the abuse instead? Here's a novel thought- why not try encouraging the players so they can play with a degree of confidence? If a player tries his hardest then that's all they can do. It's not their fault if they aren't quite up to it, they don't pick the team. How is booing a player going to help?
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TrueBlue1998 added 18:26 - Jan 13 Think Douglas has been the scapegoat and the crowd have destroyed him. I think when he came he was a good player but this abuse and us playing him as a holding midfielder (not what he was at Brentford in my opinion) has hindered him. At a loss to why you'd boo your own player! Why not go and sit in with the opposition supporters?
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Cloddyseedbed added 18:33 - Jan 13 The blame falls with the manager, he is picking players who are either past it, out of position, not good enough or out of form and he is persistently picking them come what may and the team and now confidence is at an all time low. I feel for some of the players feelings too, they are after all humans. I think the booing is aimed at the managers decision, not the player. The owner and manager have lost the plot, that is why we are in the position we are in, not because of the fans.

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Mick_Mills_Tache added 18:33 - Jan 13 What's the difference between booing a player at a game and slagging them off on a forum? Most of you who are 'shaming' those who boo slag him off all the time. Whatever spiel the club puts out, you lap it up like a kitten does milk.
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ITFC_Cotton added 18:33 - Jan 13 He was also asked if he believed the players have let MM down this season and he said NO. Absolutely they have let him down, he's also let them down. Maybe him just putting a brave face on it but if he and the players truly believe they're not letting him down then that is worrying.
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Blue_Fred added 18:35 - Jan 13 No matter what is going on there is no excuse for booing the players during a match. If you feel that strongly don't go... or go 'support' someone else.
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OwainG1992 added 18:40 - Jan 13 It's very tough because Dougie was a decent player when at Brentford. He'd scored a decent number of goals and fans had kinda high expectations. He's slow and when team with Skuse who i am a big fan of when alongside an athletic CM it makes it look even worse. But booing own players is pretty pathetic.
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NoCanariesAllowed added 18:41 - Jan 13 Re: Mick_Mills_Tache Because the player can't hear you slagging him off on a forum when he's trying to compete in a football match?
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multiplescoregasms added 18:42 - Jan 13 Things really do seem at an all time low at the club at present. I think we as fans all have the right to comment on what we see as the right or wrong things that happen at ITFC, even if we don't always agree. Was Douglas being booed, or was it more the decision to bring him on at that point in the game when we perhaps should have been looking at winning instead of the usual tactic of settling for a point? Unhappy fans and unhappy players. Sad times.

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jas0999 added 18:45 - Jan 13 I'm not a fan of booing players or indeed at any time during the match. But I equally accept folk pay their money and are entitled to their opinion. The problem here isn't Douglas who seems to have had a good career, but Mick and his arrogance/ego. It's plainly obvious to most that Skuse/Douglas doesn't work. Fans have been voicing their frustrations because frankly it's so pitifully boring/negative, particularly at home. But the manager refuses to accept any other opinion and seems to delibritely go out of his way for his own ego. It's getting to the stage where if he continues to pick such a negative central midfield, I'll have to seriously consider whether it's justifiable to go.

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Brownie added 19:00 - Jan 13 The point is the abuse is aimed at the manager. As with previous comments I have no issue with Douglas unless he plays with Skuse. I have a major issue with manager that brings Douglas on with 20 minutes to go in a game we are bossing & then try's to say we were more bothered about winning than not losing. Good that the Captain is speaking up though..
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Miles added 19:01 - Jan 13 Jas0999 normally I'd agree with a lot of what you say but in this instance I can't. Does MM have a big ego? Potentially but unless he's had input from other coaches at the club to not play Douglas why should he? The moment managers start listening to fans on tactics is when you start to worry. Regardless of if you like Mick or not his CV is good and he's had a good managerial career. He shouldn't be doing what the fans what in terms of selection. He should be doing what he thinks is best to win the game. It is negative but if he believes that's best to win the game then he has to go with it and I can't complain with that personally even if I disagree with his decision. Much rather a manager who sticks to his guns.

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Cheshire_Blue added 19:06 - Jan 13 Seen it all before. Look at the abuse thrown at Grant Leadbitter and look where he is now. Time to get behind the Manager and his team, and that includes Douglas.
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Sixto6 added 19:18 - Jan 13 “The lads appreciate what Jonathan does for the team and what he's done in a very difficult time for us. Could you please explain what that is because on match day I have no idea !!! Having said that I too agree that it is unacceptable to boo an individual player of your own team !
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itfcgene added 19:22 - Jan 13 Disagree that there's no place for booing. More like there's no place for political correctness, or worrying about hurting a grown man's "feelings". Portman Road shouldn't be one of these ridiculous safe spaces of princesses, hugs and hot chocolate. If the manager's tactics are dour then he needs to know our opinion. Man up FFS! Douglas wasn't booed anyway - the fans were booing the choice of substitution - Micks' negative tactics which the Douglas substitution represented. Change won't happen unless your voices are heard and this club needs change.

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Mark added 19:29 - Jan 13 I agree it is wrong to abuse a player verbally, and Douglas does not deserve that as he comes on and does his best. He's 35 years old though and is limited in what he can do, so I do understand frustration at his inclusion. I think we have to be free to give our opinions on here about the effectiveness of players, without being personal.
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runningout added 19:37 - Jan 13 Think anyone's so called abuse has been extremely mild Captain Chambers
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TimmyH added 19:37 - Jan 13 Rubbish!...Number 1 target of the fans frustrations is McCarthy and rightfully so, personally I wouldn't boo one of our own, cannot see how that can help in any degree.
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Bluetone added 19:41 - Jan 13 Quote ITFC Cotton "He was also asked if he believed the players have let MM down this season and he said NO." So it isn't the players' fault and it isn't McCarthy's fault so I guess it must be down to the fans. So fans stay away and let them get on with it in glourious isolation. You know it makes sense.
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happybeingblue added 19:51 - Jan 13 i personally dont agree with dougie getting abuse he does give his all to be fair to him and he is still wearing the badge, ive never been one for booing a town player , yes we all have a moan now and again.... but i do think town fans are extremely patient and realistic compared to most fans and i feel its the style of football on display that annoys us the most!

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