Ryan Tunnicliffe does not think that his winning strike at Middlesbrough will silence his critics, but he’s happy his team-mates and manager believe in him.
The midfielder, who has played in every Championship game this term, finally opened his account with a 17th minute strike at the weekend.
It marked a remarkable turnaround for a player who was booed when substituted off in the defeat to Cardiff, seven days earlier.
He then put in one of his best Town performances as they beat Sheffield Wednesday and proved the match-winner at Middlesbrough.
Asked if that would change the minds of a few of his detractors, he said: “Probably not, but that’s football, that’s life and you can’t please everyone.
“Like I said, I’ll keep grinding and as long as the gaffer keeps believing in me, that’s the main thing, and I’ll try my hardest to keep us in the league.”
The former Manchester United youth also insisted that he hadn’t let those jeers against Cardiff affect him.
“The fans have one view but if you ask my team-mates, they know I give 11 out of ten every week, in terms of effort,” said Tunnicliffe.
“If I’m not having a great game with the ball I’m still going to try and I’m sure every single one of them would like me on the team sheet because I’ll put my body on the line, I’ll try and run around, so it’s obviously not nice but I don’t think I’ll let that effect me.”
Asked if fans’ reactions to his substitution gave him any extra motivation to perform, Tunnicliffe said: “No. I do exactly the same. It’s all about the three points, so everyone is entitled to their opinion.
“Boo me, cheer me, I’m going to put the shirt on if the gaffer picks me and try my hardest to win football games for the club.”
Boss Jones, who had backed the midfielder as ‘excellent value for money’ in the wake of the incident against Cardiff, said: “I’m delighted for Tunni because he’s taken a bit of stick, in my opinion, unfairly. “He showed the character that’s in this football club.”
Yet it was all cheers from the 800 fans that travelled to Middlesbrough, with Town players taking the plaudits at the final whistle.
Tunnicliffe said: “It’s quite a big travelling set of fans. I’ve been really impressed since I’ve been at the club.
“We travelled up (on Friday) and it’s a long journey, but to reward them with the three points and send them back down happy, I’m sure that’s made their weekend, as well as ours.”
