Moyes 'disgusted' by fans abuse of Kean

 

Andy Hampson
Thursday 22 December 2011 17:12 GMT
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Everton manager David Moyes has hit out at the "disgusting" treatment of Blackburn counterpart Steve Kean by his own supporters.

Moyes today revealed he walked out of Rovers' demoralising loss to Bolton at Ewood Park on Tuesday in protest at the abuse Kean was receiving from fans.

Blackburn's 2-1 defeat to their fellow strugglers left them bottom of the Barclays Premier League and increased the pressure on Kean and the club's under-fire owners Venky's.

Moyes said: "I walked out at half-time. I couldn't believe the criticism they gave their manager.

"If they had supported the team as well as they had shouted at their manager I think the team might have got a result in the game.

"I am a football manager and it could quite easily happen to me. I was disgusted with how football supporters treated Steve.

"The only way I could show it was by leaving at half-time."

Moyes believes it is time Venky's, the Indian poultry firm who bought Blackburn last year, clarified the situation at the crisis-hit club.

The Scot said: "Steve stood on the touchline the whole night and took the barracking, never hid from it.

"He was big enough to stand there and take it and that says a lot about him.

"But sometimes on these occasions the owners need to step forward and be seen - come out and tell people exactly what is happening so the supporters are aware of it.

"But the supporters were there. It was a really big game for Blackburn and Bolton.

"The Bolton supporters really got behind their manager and their team. If Blackburn supporters had done that it might have helped them."

Moyes had his own business to take care of last night and oversaw an important 1-0 win over promoted Swansea at Goodison Park.

Leon Osman headed the only goal just before the hour to lift the Toffees to 11th in the table.

Moyes conceded his men, who were held to a frustrating draw by Norwich last weekend, had been made to work hard for the points by Brendan Rodgers' side.

He said: "I think all the promoted teams will stay up this year.

"I can't be sure, but the three promoted teams have done really well.

"Swansea came very close to keeping another clean sheet.

"They've had two difficult away games at Newcastle and at Everton.

"I'm sure Brendan will be disappointed with losing the game but he might be pleased that in two games away from home in the Premier League he's only lost one goal.

"That's something for him to build on."

Winger Seamus Coleman left the action in the first half after a recurrence of a thigh injury and is unlikely to make the Boxing Day trip to Sunderland.

The result was a blow for Swansea after two games unbeaten but they continue to make a positive impression in their first season back in the top flight.

Nevertheless, Rodgers feels his team need to start getting a greater grip of midfield battles.

Rodgers said: "I felt the last two games we didn't control the midfield. Against Newcastle we didn't quite control it.

"As the game moved on and spaces started to open up I felt we did then start to get control, because that's the basis of our game.

"But if we cannot control that midfield then it starves our front players of opportunities and service.

"That's important but it's the same for a lot of teams. You come away from home and it's difficult."

Rodgers tried to improve the Swans' midfield presence by replacing veteran Mark Gower with Kemy Agustien at half-time.

"Mark's been brilliant this year, absolutely fantastic," Rodgers said.

"He's 33 years old and he's still fit and strong. He's working very well.

"But I just felt if we weren't going to have that control, which we didn't seem to be able to grasp.

"Obviously (Marouane) Fellaini's a big lump in there and I thought we maybe needed that extra wee bit of strength."

Rodgers was pleased with the return of defender Angel Rangel, who has made a quicker than expected recovery from an ankle injury, when he was sent on for Neil Taylor.

"He's two weeks ahead of schedule," Rodgers said. "He came in and picked up the speed of the game straight away."

PA

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