Town boss Mick McCarthy says fans singling out one of his players for abuse are going to be disappointed if they believe they’ll influence him into making a substitution.

Jonathan Douglas, who the Blues announced has triggered an additional year on his contract yesterday having hit the 30-league start mark, was the latest in a long line of Town players to be jeered by some sections of the Portman Road crowd during Tuesday’s 0-0 home draw with Charlton.

“I think you know full well, anybody that starts to get abuse on the pitch, they ain’t going to come off, that’s for sure,” McCarthy said.

“Because I certainly wouldn’t appease the masses by taking one off and I wouldn’t embarrass one of my players by doing it. That’s not right.

“And probably that’s why we’ve got such a good atmosphere in here, that’s why we’ve got such a good feel about it and why everybody trusts each other and would work hard for each other.

“I’ve been at places before where one player gets singled out. It was Ainsley Maitland-Niles a few weeks ago. The poor kid’s only 18. Dougie’s 34, he’s big enough and old enough. He always puts a shift in.”

McCarthy, who wants everyone pulling in the same direction when his side face Brentford at Portman Road this afternoon, needing a win to stand any hope of reaching the play-offs, says fans booing their own players is wholly counterproductive.

“I’m not coming in here to have a go at our supporters, they’ve been wonderful with me for nearly four years,” he added.

“It’s frustrating, it’s frustrating for me and the players and it’s frustrating for them. But, it doesn’t help anybody.

“I’d imagine when you’re sat at home writing your reports and somebody’s giving it in your ear hole, it wouldn’t help either.”

Douglas, 34, seems unlikely to start today's match, Town's third game in eight days, having played the full 90 minutes of the two previous fixtures.

Photo: Action Images

baz75 added 17:35 - Apr 9 Feel sorry for Mick but he was the right person at the right time for the wrong club, his time is done and if Villa want him we should all thank him and wish him well. If we get compensation for him all the better. The only worry I have is that, Mick apart, this ownership has got employing managers wrong everytime.
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