Middlesbrough fans issue clear Morgan Whittaker stance - Rob Edwards has delivered his response | OneFootball

Morgan Whittaker was booed off the pitch after being substituted in Middlesbrough's draw away to Preston North End.

Middlesbrough have started the season in sublime fashion, however their most recent result, a 2-2 draw away to Preston North End, was marred by Morgan Whittaker being sarcastically cheered off of the pitch by his own fans.

Under new boss Rob Edwards, Middlesbrough couldn't have hoped for a much better start to the campaign.

Having won all four of their opening Championship games, with victories over the likes of Swansea City, Millwall, Norwich City and Sheffield United, the club from Teesside topped the league table heading into their most recent fixture at Deepdale.

However, with Boro trailing the match 1-0, Whittaker was substituted off in the 66th minute and replaced by 18-year-old Norwegian wonderkid Sverre Nypan, who joined the club on loan this summer from Manchester City.

Whittaker's substitution was met with cheers of a sarcastic nature for his performance from the travelling support, who made their feelings clear both at the stadium and on social media.

The 24-year-old joined Boro from Plymouth Argyle in January of this year for a fee of around £5 million, but has struggled to re-find the form he had displayed at Home Park, which led Middlesbrough to initially make a sizable offer for him.

Middlesbrough fans voice their opinion on Morgan Whittaker display after being booed off

Whittaker has yet to score for Middlesbrough in 22 games for the club, and providing just three assists to date.

It was during the 2023/24 campaign that Whittaker shot into the spotlight, with 19 goals and eight assists in 46 games in the Championship for Plymouth, despite the Pilgrims' struggles in the league.

However, it now appears as though some Boro fans have reached the end of their tether with the forward, taking to X to voice their displeasure with his displays.

This Boro fan meanwhile does not believe that Whittaker is busting a gut for the shirt when he is on the pitch.

Another supporter believes it may be time for the club to "give up" on their expensive recruit already, less than a year after he arrived on Teesside.

Some Boro fans, however, have jumped to Whittaker's defence, despite his lengthy goal drought.

Another believes that the £5m man is working hard to make things happen for Boro, despite his continued goal drought, and that it may drop right for him in the near future.

Middlesbrough manager Rob Edwards makes a strong statement in defence of Morgan Whittaker

It's not only been Boro fans jumping to defend Whittaker, however, with manager Edwards coming out with a statement of his own in regard to the matter.

When asked about the situation in an interview with the club, Edwards said: "The fans were incredible and we thank them for their support. I do have to say one thing though. I don’t want to see that response when I’m making a substitution. I don’t like that.

"We’re a family and if we’re going to achieve something, if we’re going to progress and move forward, then us, the staff, the players and the fans, all of us, we’ve got to be together. Morgan has, from day one of us coming in, been brilliant. He’s been committed and he has worked so, so hard.

"We’ve got to protect him and we’ve got to love him. I don’t want to see that because I don’t think it helps us at all. So, I appreciate the support and I absolutely love our fans.

"I understand that everyone is entitled to their opinions, but whilst we’re in this moment and we’re undefeated and everything feels good, we have to look after our own.

"He loves playing for this football club and he is giving everything at the moment. I’ve got to stress that. We protect our own and we look after our own."

Up next for Boro is a match at the Riverside against West Brom on Friday evening., and whether Edwards takes Whittaker out of the limelight for the fixture remains to be seen, but his support for his player is obvious, and he doesn't seem ready to give up on him just yet.