EWOOD skipper Jason Wilcox spoke up on behalf of his Blackburn Rovers team-mates today and told worried fans - We're all backing Brian Kidd and we'll get it right.
Wilcox, acknowledging the wholesale criticism in the wake of last Saturday's stunning defeat by Barnsley, stressed that it was important the supporters did not become despondent after a poor start.
And, on the eve of another vital game at Norwich, he said the players took responsibility for the flop against Barnsley but vowed everyone remained positive.
"We have a great team spirit here, we are all still confident and we are determined to get it right," he said.
"And we are all fully behind the manager.
"The club is in a strong position, the platform is there for us to succeed and it is up to the players to build on it.
"When we lose a game like that against Barnsley it's got nothing to do with the manager, it's to do with the players.
"The manager can do all his work during the week but, when we cross that white line on a Saturday, we are the ones who play the game.
"And we are doing everything we can to change things.
"It was very disappointing on Saturday because we just didn't do enough and results change things.
"But all the players are positive and it's important that the fans are too. They shouldn't get too despondent.
"They have to stay positive too and we need them to believe in us. "It's vital that we all stick together, because we have everything to go for.
"I felt so disappointed after Saturday and we can understand everybody's frustration because it's even worse for the players."
Reported comments from Jack Walker today inferred there was extra pressure on Kidd from inside Ewood. But that does not seem to be the case.
Chief executive John Williams said: "Of course we are disappointed with the start. We can understand the fans' frustration especially after their magnificent showing at the end of last season.
"We understand they want something better and everyone is working together to provide the conditions in which Brian and the players can flourish."
And Kidd himself remained confident, even bubbling: "I said last season that Mr Walker will decide what he wants to do. He will do whatever he thinks is right and he won't have any complaints from me.
"This job is about pressure but the man in the street is under pressure. Thank God I don't have his pressures. I'm a lucky man.
"I am under no illusions what this job entails. I'm just glad I didn't get a vote of confidence," he smiled.
Tomorrow's game at Norwich will be another test.
New signing Steve Harkness will not be involved and Darren Peacock is not yet ready to return.
Harkness joined his new team-mates for training and said: "I'm just glad to be back in England with a big club and I'm looking forward to starting the season.
"There are a lot of good players here, they have had a blip at the start but I am confident they will be back up there. "I haven't had a game since the end of last season so it's going to take a couple of weeks hard training before I'm fit. But I'll try my best to be ready for the next game after Norwich."
Kidd will have to check several players including Damien Duff and Garry Flitcroft. But Christian Dailly, expected to replace injured Marlon Broomes, and Callum Davidson should have shaken off a flu bug.
Rovers' performances so far will also have given the manager food for thought.
They are expected to choose from: Filan, Grayson, Short, Dailly, Davidson, Gillespie, Carsley, Flitcroft, Wilcox, Ostenstad, Ward, Jansen, Dunn, Johnson, Kenna, Duff, Blake, Gallacher, Taylor, Kelly.
Like Rovers, Norwich have had their share of injury problems and have only one point so far. They have been involved in some tight games and it could be another one tomorrow.
Their squad is: A Marshall, Sutch, Mackay, Fleming, Fuglestad, Wilson, Anselin, Mulryne, L Marshall, de Blasiis, Llewellyn, Roberts, Dalglish, Coote, Diop, Carey, Russell, Green.
Kevin Gallacher, Christian Dailly and Callum Davidson have been named in the Scotland squad to play Bosnia on September 4 and Estonia September 8.
Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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