Jack Wilshere has admitted that the level of fan frustration has been worse than he expected, but warned his Luton Town players they must learn to cope with a hostile atmosphere at Kenilworth Road.
The manager’s latest taste of fury from the stands came as his side laboured to a 2-2 draw against League One basement boys Port Vale on Saturday.
Having taken the lead through Cohen Bramall’s stunning free-kick, Town then saw the visitors end a goal drought in the division that stretched beyond nine hours.
And when Devante Cole put Vale in front, boos and chants of “you’re not fit to wear the shirt” rang out around Kenilworth Road and though a Mads Andersen header rescued a point, more boos awaited at the final whistle.
It came after Tuesday’s 1-1 draw at Leyton Orient when Wilshere went into the away end to chat to some of the more disgruntled travelling Town fans.
And the day before the Vale game, the manager spoke in his pre-match press conference about the anger fans are feeling after two successive relegations and stuttering form in League One. He called for patience and for support and home, but it turned toxic once again.
The Hatters boss admitted afterwards, that the reaction had been more intense than he expected, but stressed his priority was protecting his players and finding ways to help them cope under pressure.
“For me, I just think about the players and worry about the players in them moments because what we want is the players to do well,” Wilshere said. “What we want is the players to win and that’s definitely not helping the players. You can see that, it’s clear.
“But that being said, the players, and I said this after the game, we have to find a way. Either we’re going to step up and in those moments we’re going to face it and try and be even more of ourselves, or we’re going to go under. It’s going to be very difficult in moments.
“We have to keep looking at that. We knew that. I knew that when I came in and probably didn’t understand it was as bad as it is at times.
“But, as players, we have to deal with that. As coaches, we have to find a way to help the players deal with that and we will.”
Supporters’ frustration was also fuelled by long spells of perceived slow possession, with groans growing louder as Luton recycled the ball rather than forcing the issue.
Wilshere said: “One thing that I would like the fans to know is, I like to think I’m not stupid.
“I don’t want to try and overplay. I don’t want to put the ball in dangerous positions where we’re going to lose it. And if there’s space behind them and we’re going to go behind them.
“When you play against teams that don’t press and they’re in a low block, there’s not that much space behind them, so you have to find better ways to attack.
“We didn’t do it well enough and, actually, at times, I thought we could have moved the ball a little bit quicker, because sometimes if you’re waiting, waiting, waiting and they’re not coming, it’s not the moment to do it.
“You have to put the ball out wide, try and open up some more spaces. We try and win the game in the best way we think possible. We didn’t do it.”
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