FANS calling for the head of Darren Abram have made the Leigh Centurions coach all the more determined to succeed.

The Hilton Park boss was stung by the criticism he and his injury-hit squad received following their surprise defeat at Doncaster last Sunday.

"I couldn't believe what I heard," Abram admitted this week. "They were calling for me to be sacked, slagging this player and that player. It was out of order and I feel as though I've been stabbed in the back.

"Just a couple of weeks ago I was a hero. Now, after two poor performances, I'm the bad guy.

"I'll be quite honest, I've not enjoyed the last week. We've been crippled by injuries and come up with two unacceptable performances but the fans must look at the big picture.

"I've had the spine of my team ripped out with injuries to Martyn, Duffy and Knott. Then I lost my top try scorer (Percival) and leading points scorer (Turley). Those five are normally the first on the team sheet.

"I've been forced to play people out of position and that's not an ideal situation. But those players have all put their hands up and given it a go. No-one has said to me 'I don't want to play there,' " Abram added.

"I know we've got some good kids coming through the Academy but there's a time and place for them to make that step up. Doncaster wasn't that place.

"The half backs didn't play well and they know it. Radney Bowker's come back from Super League very low on confidence while that was Willie Swann's first full 80 minutes after major surgery. Give them a chance.

"I know what my strongest 17 is. If I could guarantee that those 17 would stay in form and healthy all year, I would be laughing. But that's never going to happen and when you lose five key players at one time, it's bound to have an effect."

Abram's injury crisis shows no sign of easing for Sunday's awkward trip to Barrow in the Arriva Trains quarter-final.

There will be no Duffy, Martyn, Knott or Percival in the line-up. The only good news is that Neil Turley returns after his honeymoon.

Duffy likely to be out for about a month with damaged knee ligaments and a shin injury to Martyn is also causing concern. Knott is still unable to train because of a damaged ankle while Percival needed six stitches in a gashed knee after a training accident last Friday.

Abram adds: "We come through this rough spell better and stronger. But I would ask that the fans show us a bit of patience and respect.