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Walsall manager Darrell Clarke backs Holden and Gaffney to win over fans

Walsall manager Darrell Clarke has backed Rory Holden and Rory Gaffney to shake off criticism in a Saddlers shirt.

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The pair have both been the target of criticism this season after turning out inconsistent performances.

Holden has come under pressure in recent weeks with his displays, but has hugely impressed in Walsall's latest fixtures.

And Clarke has urged the 22-year-old to keep working hard to win over the fans.

"Rory's another development sort of player, he's a great lad who covers a hell of a lot of distance in games," he said.

"They'll always be scapegoats with that, Rory can only affect that by working hard and doing what he's doing.

"He's very highly rated by myself and my coaching staff.

Rory Holden goes for goal against Stevenage

"As all my players are, they've all got the potential to do that but they've got to show it on a more regular basis.

"I'm pleased he had a decent game the other night.

"There's nobody out there who can really handle criticism to be honest.

"That's in any walk of life.

"Footballers now, they massively get it and it'll always be the case.

"They have to be able to deal with that mentally.

"The best way I always say is don't read it, don't read criticism.

"Don't read it and then you're not affected by criticism.

"They can't cry about it, players have got to be mentally strong."

Meanwhile, Gaffney is still yet to get going in a Walsall shirt.

The striker, on loan from Salford, has netted once for the Saddlers this season – in the 2-1 loss away at Swindon at the beginning of November.

Since then he has missed opportunities at home to Darlington in the FA Cup, been rested for the EFL Trophy and only made a 10-minute cameo in the 2-1 win over Cambridge.

When he was introduced in that game, the travelling support jeered him as a former Cambridge player, but a small section of home fans also seemed to boo the 30-year-old.

And Clarke says Gaffney is strong enough to deal with criticism, but believed the hostile reception came from the away fans.

"I don't think it was our fans, I thought it was Cambridge fans," he said.

"At the end of the day, Rory Gaffney is strong enough, old enough and ugly enough to understand that he's missed four great chances at home and the fans are going to put you under pressure.

"If he scored four they'd be singing his name, the game can change like that.

"I certainly won't be giving stick to our supporters, it's up to our lads, Rory and other players that cop a lot of flack and myself.

"The only way you shut people up is by winning football games.

"But we're not going to have our dummies in and cry like babies."