Mick McCarthy has defended Emmanuel Frimpong after the on-loan Wolves midfielder was subjected to abuse by Tottenham Hotspur fans.
Wolves boss subbed midfielder to prevent a red card
Mick McCarthy has defended Emmanuel Frimpong after the on-loan midfielder was subjected to abuse by Tottenham Hotspur fans during Wolves' draw at White Hart Lane.
Frimpong, who was on loan at Wolves from Spurs' local rivals Arsenal, was the target for jeers from the crowd during Saturday's 1-1 stalemate.
He was substituted midway through the second half for 'safety's sake', and reports claim he responded to further chants as he made his way off the pitch.
Wolves boss McCarthy felt Frimpong produced a 'mature' display against Spurs and decided to bring him off as he was concerned the player would be shown a red card.
Unlucky
"I thought he was so unlucky with the free-kick he gave away because I thought he won the ball with a good tackle and it was a poor decision," said McCarthy.
"I took him off because he might have got a second booking.
"I said to him at half-time that if he got warned for another one I might have to take him off.
"I'm sure Spurs would have loved to have been playing against ten men and I wasn't going to let that happen. For safety's sake I took him off.
"I've been there as a young player when you're coming off and 30 or 40 thousand are giving you dog's abuse.
"And you have to smile and have a sharpened pencil between your teeth and just take it.
"And he was fine - he was really, really good. He put in a mature performance and I was really pleased with him."
