Monday 15 September 2014 10:38, UK
Ben Foster has blasted the West Brom boo-boys over their treatment of captain Chris Brunt.
Brunt was singled out for criticism during Saturday's 2-0 defeat to Everton and left the field to ironic cheers when he was substituted midway through the second half.
The Northern Ireland international emerged as a scapegoat as the Baggies struggled to avoid relegation last term but the England goalkeeper fumed after hearing fresh ire directed at a man who has made more than 250 appearances for the club.
"It is absolutely ridiculous for somebody who has been an incredible servant to this club for such a long time," Foster told the club's official website.
"He always gives his all and he’s somebody I would always play in the team.
"It’s not needed. It is really silly. It doesn’t help at all.
"Brunty is everything we’re about. He works his socks off. There’s no need to boo somebody. If he very obviously wasn’t putting it in or couldn’t be bothered then fair enough, but that’s not the case.
"Nobody likes that, I don’t care who you are, whether you’re the manager or the goalkeeper, centre-forward. If you’re getting ridiculed and abused like that it affects you and there’s no need for it.
"These are our supporters and we need our supporters to support us and not do things like that. You can understand frustration but it’s not like we’re not trying. If that happens, fans are well within their rights to do whatever they want to do.
Brunty is everything we’re about. He works his socks off. There’s no need to boo somebody. If he very obviously wasn’t putting it in or couldn’t be bothered then fair enough, but that’s not the case.
"If they can see the club isn’t putting it in and the players aren’t working then they can do that, but that’s not the case."
Albion have taken just two points from their opening four Premier League games but Foster mounted a staunch defence of all the players at manager Alan Irvine's disposal.
"We’re four games in. You don’t even think about pressure to be honest," he added.
"It’s obviously disappointing hearing the booing because you never want to hear that - but I can assure you we’re working our socks off, we really are.
"We’ve got a fantastic group of players. We are definitely a much better team than last season but it’s just not going for us at the minute.
"We’ve got an eight-day lead into the next game on Sunday (away at Tottenham) and we’ll be working hard to make sure we get a much better start. The last few games we’ve let in early goals, which have really killed us."
