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Kevin McNaughton has heard a few grumbles in his time and has the grey hairs to prove it – but even he was surprised by the scale of Wanderers fans’ remonstrations during the defeat to Derby.
The experienced defender was the first to admit he did not cover himself in glory against the Rams but nevertheless he was the only player to step up and speak with the press after a tortuous 90 minutes on and off the pitch.
Jeers have become a familiar sound at the Macron this last few weeks but that fans took to invading the pitch and protesting outside the doors of main reception was a whole new one on the 31-year-old full-back.
“It isn’t nice,” he told The Bolton News. “I don’t want to sound callous but I don’t tend to hear it – it’s just noise on the pitch. Having people come on to the pitch, that’s a different thing. That was a strange one.
“I am experienced and I have dealt with quite a bit of abuse down the years. For the younger lads I don’t think it helps.
“Playing for Cardiff I’ve seen the odd thing happen outside the stadium but this was different.
“A couple of idiots who drank too much run on to the pitch but don’t tar everyone with the same brush. The fans are upset and it’s hard as players to give them any stick because they work hard all week and come and watch the games.
“Last season the fans were brilliant in terms of the fact we were down there struggling and they were still coming in their numbers.
“This season they have seen the same start and frustrations have been a lot heightened. That is understandable.”
McNaughton admitted that Dougie Freedman’s gameplan had not been executed to anything like the manager’s wishes against Derby.
“The manager sends you out with instructions and if you don’t do those instructions it falls on the players’ heads,” he said. “There will be players who are hurting, there will be players who might not be.
“We didn’t create much when we won the ball. In the second half we didn’t start at a great tempo. That relaxed them and allowed them to keep possession.
“The second goal was a bit of a mishap and it pretty much cut the game off. We tried to push on but it was a bit too late.”
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The experienced defender was the first to admit he did not cover himself in glory against the Rams but nevertheless he was the only player to step up and speak with the press after a tortuous 90 minutes on and off the pitch.
Jeers have become a familiar sound at the Macron this last few weeks but that fans took to invading the pitch and protesting outside the doors of main reception was a whole new one on the 31-year-old full-back.
“It isn’t nice,” he told The Bolton News. “I don’t want to sound callous but I don’t tend to hear it – it’s just noise on the pitch. Having people come on to the pitch, that’s a different thing. That was a strange one.
“I am experienced and I have dealt with quite a bit of abuse down the years. For the younger lads I don’t think it helps.
“Playing for Cardiff I’ve seen the odd thing happen outside the stadium but this was different.
“A couple of idiots who drank too much run on to the pitch but don’t tar everyone with the same brush. The fans are upset and it’s hard as players to give them any stick because they work hard all week and come and watch the games.
“Last season the fans were brilliant in terms of the fact we were down there struggling and they were still coming in their numbers.
“This season they have seen the same start and frustrations have been a lot heightened. That is understandable.”
McNaughton admitted that Dougie Freedman’s gameplan had not been executed to anything like the manager’s wishes against Derby.
“The manager sends you out with instructions and if you don’t do those instructions it falls on the players’ heads,” he said. “There will be players who are hurting, there will be players who might not be.
“We didn’t create much when we won the ball. In the second half we didn’t start at a great tempo. That relaxed them and allowed them to keep possession.
“The second goal was a bit of a mishap and it pretty much cut the game off. We tried to push on but it was a bit too late.”
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