We don't want to boo you Iain

Iain Dowie reacted to jeers from the Ricoh Arena crowd during Coventry City's 4-0 defeat by Preston North End by saying: 'I don't understand booing at half time or the booing of Robert Page.

'That goes against everything he is about - he is a good honest player.

'I accept booing from the fans because they have a right to that but they should boo me, not the players.

'My job is to take this club forward and I want my sides to be tough, difficult to beat, play attractive football and grind it out.'

Aside from the fact that Saturday's performance was the complete opposite of what the manager wants, Page and Kevin Kyle in particular have to accept jeers from the crowd as a consequence of their off-field actions.

Page at least can point to playing over 70 games for the club and a key role in avoiding relegation at the end of the 2004/05 season.

Kyle however has made far more headlines for his extra-curricular activities since moving (for a big fee) earlier this season.

Having his salary of over £400,000-a-year made public means he has to do a lot more to convince the people who contribute a large amount of that sum that he is worth the money.

Poor performances can be forgiven but sarcastically applauding the fans, stupidly handballing when he had a chance of scoring and then berating Fadiga for what (as the sub pointed out) was a decent, hanging cross cannot be.

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