Levein in fan blast

PAUL KIDDIE

BOSS Craig Levein today urged Hearts fans to stop barracking the team’s young players.

The Gorgie chief spoke out after certain sections of the Tynecastle support turned on Robert Sloan during last night’s 1-0 win over Aberdeen, the winger the subject of the fans wrath after a below-par performance.

While he admitted the 20-year-old didn’t have the best of games for the Jambos, Levein insisted the fans were wrong to single the player out and claimed such treatment will only have an adverse affect.

"I think the fans turned up at the stadium yesterday annoyed by everything going on off the park and that didn’t help," he said.

"It seems it is now acceptable to criticise but it is not. Although people are unhappy about other things it is important they get behind the youngsters rather than continue to criticise them.

"While Tynecastle can produce a great atmosphere the crowd is close to the pitch and players can sometimes hear what is being shouted. I heard it myself a few times last night when the fans were having a go at Sloany.

"What I would say about him was he worked his socks off for the team and that has sometimes been his problem in the past. I know he has great ability and that will shine through if he gets the work aspect right.

"I thought being a Hearts supporter was about supporting whoever was wearing a Hearts jersey. But it shouldn’t be just me criticising this behaviour, other fans should be saying something as well."

He added: "There appears to be an element of the support at Tynecastle determined to boo and heckle the younger players but they are then having a go at the future of the club. All the fans I speak to want to see youngsters in the team but I keep stressing that we have all got to stick together at the club."

Taken from the Scotsman