Rob Edwards hits out at Middlesbrough fans - it has gone down very well | OneFootball

Middlesbrough sit top of the Championship table after five games

Middlesbrough are unbeaten after five Championship games and currently sit top of the table.

Rob Edwards has been a sensation during the early stages of his time at the Riverside, after filling the managerial vacancy left by Michael Carrick this summer.

Boro won four straight games before the international break, dispatching Millwall, Swansea City, Norwich City and Sheffield United with relative ease.

The North East outfit waved goodbye to some of their most talented operators during the transfer window, with the likes of Finn Azaz and Rav Van Den Berg pursuing moves away from the club.

However, Middlesbrough haven’t let that affect them and actually look to be a more dangerous unit in their absence.

Boro’s perfect run came to an end in their latest outing, as they failed to beat Preston North End at Deepdale.

In fact, Middlesbrough looked set for defeat after Jordan Storey fired the Lilywhites ahead in the 88th minute. Sontje Hansen salvaged a point for Edwards’s side in stoppage time, which currently makes up the difference between themselves and second-place Stoke City in the table.

There was a moment of controversy for Boro during their visit to Lancashire however, despite their brilliant start to the campaign.

Rob Edwards hits out at Middlesbrough support following Preston North End draw

Morgan Whittaker has struggled for form since moving to the Riverside in January and is still yet to score his first goal for the club.

After arriving in the North East for £5 million, expectations of the 24-year-old were high, especially due to the brilliant performances he had displayed for Plymouth Argyle during his tenure at Home Park.

However, the Derby County academy graduate is yet to replicate that form for Middlesbrough.

After another sub-par display, he was substituted off in the 65th minute against PNE and a section of the 6,500 travelling Boro fans subsequently cheered the fact that the forward was being withdrawn.

In his post-match interview via the club’s media channels, Edwards was quick to condemn those who had performed such an act.

“The fans were incredible, and we thank them for their support,” stated the Boro boss. “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.”

Middlesbrough supporters express their delight at Rob Edwards’s Morgan Whittaker stance

Challenging supporters can often be a risky game for managers, especially those who have travelled to come and watch the team play.

Fans highlight their right to express how they are feeling to players whose wages they help pay, but sometimes it can have negative consequences on the pitch.

However, the good mood around the Riverside at this moment in time is summarised by the way Boro’s fans have reacted to Edwards’ comments.

“Well said regarding Whitaker,” commented one fan. “Yes he had a mare and yes he hasn’t been good for us but no fan should ever boo a player or sarcastically cheer a player being subbed whilst they are wearing a Middlesbrough shirt.”

“Love that at the end like,” stated another. “Whittaker weren’t great but didn’t deserve that. Great way to put it.”

Edwards’ approach to defending his players was seen as refreshing by some of the Boro fanbase, who are delighted with the job their new boss is doing.

“Just keeps going up in my estimations RE,” said one fan. “I love that he's coming out defending our players, and he's bang on. Everyone has an off day or two, and we need to get behind the whole squad.”

There were even supporters from other fanbases who put aside their differences to praise Edwards on his defence of Whittaker.

“I love a manager who is so passionate about his job,” admitted a Preston North End fan. “And it’s so obvious to see how much he loves the game.”