ANGRY Wigan manager Paul Jewell has turned on the fans who have remarkably dared to criticise his players.
Jewell has received feedback that some supporters are still far from happy, despite the club a comfortable fifth in the Premier-ship and in the last eight of the Carling Cup following the 1-0 victory over Newcastle.
Jewell is at a loss to understand their feelings, particularly in light of how far the club have progressed during his four-and-a-half years in charge.
The 43-year-old is happy to take all the flak the fans want to dish out to him, but he will not accept any unjust remarks with regard to his players.
"I keep forgetting we are Wigan and we should be top of the league week in and week out," said Jewell. "But I know some of the supporters are getting a bit anxious because we've lost to Arsenal and Tottenham. We've slipped to fifth in the league, so we are really panicking.
"I think some people can be a bit harsh against this football club at times, and some of them are our own supporters. It's not about me, but one or two things have been coming back to me that some of the players have been criticised. I find that unbelievable."
Jewell is also concerned at the stay-away fans picking and choosing their games, despite the fact the club are facing top-class opposition every other week.
"Let's have it right," added a disbelieving Jewell. "We've lost two games, the first against Arsenal who we pushed all the way in front of 25,000.
"Then we play Tottenham and we lose 2,500 off the gate. How's that? How does that work?"
Jewell, meanwhile, will be without Emerson Thome for around six to eight weeks after the centre-back fractured his cheekbone in the win over the Magpies.
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