MATCHDAY CENTRE: Stubbs isn't affected by fans' criticism

ROTHERHAM United manager Alan Stubbs says he is big enough to take criticism thrown his way by some sections of fans at the New York Stadium.

Boos could be heard at the final whistle of Saturday's 2-2 draw with Bristol City, but Stubbs says criticism from fans doesn't affect him.

Speaking after his side threw away a two goal lead, Stubbs said: "There's one thing we won't be doing, and that's hiding.

"People can criticise me all they like, but don't criticise the players.

"I've told you, I've got big shoulders, I'll take all the criticism that comes.

"It doesn't affect me, bring it on."

While the 2-2 draw was enough to take his team out of the Championship's bottom three, many fans weren't convinced by the performance across the 90 minutes and the squandering of a winning position handed to them by two defensive howlers.

It was still an improvement on the 4-0 humiliation at Barnsley and Stubbs said it had to be put in proper context.

"When you look at the bigger picture, this could be a valuable point. We played a good team who have spent this summer," Stubbs said.

"I can understand the frustration of the fans but there has to be some realism. The Championship has become an even harder league. There are a lot of big clubs in the division that have improved and spent a considerable amount of money."

Had the hard-working Danny Ward taken a good chance at 2-0, Stubbs might have been celebrating his second win in charge and been spared the jeers at the end.

He acknowledged: "We could have done better and we had a couple of decent chances to make it 3-0 but gave a silly foul away which gave them the chance to put in a quality ball, and from that they scored and got themselves back in the game. They put a lot of crosses into our box but we showed good attitude.

"We certainly gave the supporters a performance, which we owed them after the Barnsley defeat."

Stubbs is confident Lee Frecklington and Tom Adeyemi will be back available for Wednesday's home date with Nottingham Forest.

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