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Jon Whitney: Boo me, not the Walsall players

Boss Jon Whitney has called on Walsall’s fans to get behind their team at Doncaster and save any criticism towards him until after the final whistle.

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The Saddlers travel to the Keepmoat Stadium on Saturday with Whitney coming under increasing pressure from supporters.

With the team having failed to win in their last six matches, the boss had to endure calls for him to be moved on in the recent draws against Blackpool and MK Dons.

Whitney though says he can handle the criticism coming his way, but he believes any future protests towards him should be made after Saturday’s game to ensure they don’t affect the players. “Sometimes the negative atmosphere can be difficult for the players,” the 46-year-old said.

“I don’t think the fans, if they are honest, can fault their effort. If they have got anything personal against me then wait until the end of the game.

“I just want them to keep behind the players. That’s what they have done in the past. If you are patient you never know where it will take us. So at Doncaster, come and let’s be positive until the end.

“If you want to make a statement against me – I’ve got no problem with that.

“Just wait until the end of the game because these players are putting a shift in for this club and for these fans.

“Being booed and being negative to some of the players is a little bit unjust.”

Meanwhile, midfielder Florent Cuvelier admitted he was delighted to return to the side at MK Dons after missing the past five weeks with a hamstring injury.

The Belgian has endured an injury plagued few years but was adamant he wasn’t going to let his latest set-back knock his confidence.

“It’s never easy – but I’m a fighter,” he said. “Every time I get knocked down, I will get back on my feet and go again. I’d been out for almost five weeks with a hamstring injury but I worked really hard in the gym. The gaffer put me back in the team and I wanted to give him everything.”