09/04/2008 - Cheer us on, don't boo us off
Colin Calderwood today appealed to Nottingham Forest fans to adopt a positive attitude during the critical finale to the League One season.
The Reds were booed and jeered for every misplaced pass and error during the final 15 minutes of their 1-1 draw with Bristol Rovers last night, after failing to notch up a third consecutive victory.
It was the lowest league crowd of the season at the City Ground, with less than 16,000 turning up.
But those who were in the stadium gave their team a rough time as they failed to break down a well-organised Rovers side.
Manager Calderwood admitted their attitude was having a negative effect on the players - but said that fans can still play a key role in helping them into the Championship.
"It is not a nice situation. It is one that the players do not like to perform in and I don't think they should have to, if I am honest," said Calderwood. "Everyone makes a mistake. If it was a lack of effort I could understand criticism being voiced but there wasn't. So a careful thought process is required and a little bit of common sense. What will help the players on the pitch?
"Obviously it is not that. Just remain sensible about the situation because what is ahead of us can still be good.
"They can feel good about their team. The team feels good about themselves, they feel confident and I think they have exhibited that on plenty of occasions."
Calderwood says his players are used to playing with a weight of expectation on their shoulders.
But he also hopes fans can play a positive part over the coming weeks.
"They have to learn to play in this situation, under this pressure, with the intense support they have at home," he said. "They can combat that. But we ask for a little bit back - or I ask for a little bit back on their behalf because they are giving their all. They are not failing for the want of trying. I believe they are not failing for a lack of ability either. It is a learning experience for this group.
"They have coped pretty well. Unfortunately our last home run has been three draws a win and a defeat. But the performances have been more than all right. We know we can score, we look as if we can compete, we just have to keep going.
"They (the fans) have been pretty good. Their reaction to one or two slack bits of play was just annoyance - and we all have that. There is nobody more annoyed than me when that happens. The only way to change things is to win promotion. But it would help if they have the atmosphere about them that they think the team can achieve it."
Calderwood believes the fans' mood will change in the play-offs.
"It changes in those type of games, it can be a different atmosphere in the play-offs," he said.
"It will be emotional, it will be nerve-wracking and anything can happen.
"That is definitely when we need the fans - but I think they will be because of the importance of the situation."
Calderwood was disappointed not to have beaten Rovers - but not just because it meant they failed to register three consecutive wins for the first time this season.
"That doesn't really matter, it is not so important - but we did want just to win another game, just to keep people feeling positive about us, which they had been following Carlisle and Cheltenham," he said.
"We were so desperate for three points. The disappointment was just because of the situation. We might have gained something on the teams above us, which would have left us feeling a lot more positive than the draw.
"We can secure our play-off place at the weekend, when we play Tranmere.
''We just have to make sure that we do.''