Dean Whitehead in challenge to Sunderland fans

Apr 1 2009 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

DEAN Whitehead has urged Sunderland fans to prove they are the best in the country after revealing he has no regrets about criticising the negative atmosphere at the Stadium of Light.

Whitehead incurred the wrath of many Black Cats supporters when he launched into a post-match tirade against them for booing and jeering their own players, during the abject performance in the home defeat by Wigan Athletic last month.

It was an outburst the captain was reluctant to completely retract but, while the midfielder still stands by what he said, he admits the manner in which it was delivered was wrong in the circumstances.

Instead of upsetting fans who he believes are the best in the country when they are behind the team, Whitehead hopes his frank expression of his opinion will galvanise the club’s followers as the Wearsiders fight to preserve their place in the Premier League.

“It was frustration after the (Wigan) game, but I don’t regret anything that I said,” said Whitehead, who revealed he had only made his comments in public following a discussion in the dressing room.

“Obviously, though, I said it in the wrong way. That’s gone now though, it’s in the past and I want to move on and look forward again to the West Ham game and beyond.

“When the fans are behind us they are a great asset to the club and the players. When this team is winning I don’t think there is a better fanbase in the country.

“We need to get them behind us. If we can do that, we’ll be fine.

“When the crowd are behind us at the Stadium of Light and the place is bouncing, opposition players don’t like playing there. If we can get that from now until the end of the season our home form will improve. As

captain, sometimes you have to say difficult things. We did feel that as a group and I’ve come out and said it, but in the wrong manner. We have to move on.”

Whitehead’s honesty is brave and he accepts the team’s performance against Wigan was a poor one which did little to inspire those who follow them.

But with just three points separating Sunderland from the relegation places, the former Oxford United star is wary of being dragged back into the drop zone and is keen for everyone to pull together over the next eight games.

Sunderland have not won any of their last five games and travel to West Ham at the weekend knowing a defeat would put them in real danger again.

He said: “We’ve been dragged back into it which is frustrating and disappointing because, after the point (we won) at Arsenal, we were looking at the next three or four games and trying to kick on up the table.

“It hasn’t turned out that way and with eight games left to play we have to make sure we aren’t dragged right back into it.

“We never thought we were safe. We just knew, if we had picked up the points in our last five games we should have done, then we wouldn’t have still been talking about relegation.

“It’s impossible to predict what’s going to happen. We don’t really talk about the table as a group, but we are aware of it and we do know who is playing and when. There are going to be lots of ups and downs between now and the end of the season.

“The only thing we can worry about is what Sunderland do. We’ve just got to concentrate on ourselves. We know we’ve got good enough players and a good enough squad to get out of this.

“The situation has changed for us. The last-minute goal against Tottenham was very disappointing and the performance against Wigan was poor. We have to make sure we don’t perform like that again.”

l SUNDERLAND’S Under-18s have won their regional league for the third successive season – after seeing off the challenge of North East rivals Newcastle United.

The young Black Cats sealed the FA Premier Academy Group D title thanks to a 2-1 win at home to Barnsley yesterday afternoon.

Ryan Noble and Andrew Galer scored the goals to see off a stern challenge by Barnsley at the Academy of Light.

The win moved Sunderland 19 points clear of Newcastle at the top of their group, putting them in an unassailable position.

Sunderland’s reserves set up a totesportcasino.com League Cup Final tie with Derby, at County’s Pride Park, after beating Accrington Stanley 2-0 on Monday.