Moyes disgusted by Rovers fans’ abuse of Kean

EVERTON manager David Moyes has hit out at the “disgusting” treatment of Blackburn counterpart Steve Kean by his own supporters.

Moyes yesterday revealed he walked out of Rovers’ demoralising loss to Bolton at Ewood Park on Tuesday in protest at the abuse Kean was receiving from fans.

Blackburn’s 2-1 defeat to their fellow strugglers left them bottom of the Barclays Premier League and increased the pressure on Kean and the club’s under-fire owners Venky’s.

Moyes said: “I walked out at half-time. I couldn’t believe the criticism they gave their manager. If they had supported the team as well as they had shouted at their manager I think the team might have got a result in the game.

“I am a football manager and it could quite easily happen to me. I was disgusted with how football supporters treated Steve. The only way I could show it was by leaving at half-time.”

Moyes believes it is time Venky’s, the Indian poultry firm who bought Blackburn last year, clarified the situation at the crisis-hit club.

The Scot said: “Steve stood on the touchline the whole night and took the barracking, never hid from it. He was big enough to stand there and take it and that says a lot about him. But sometimes on these occasions the owners need to step forward and be seen — come out and tell people exactly what is happening so the supporters are aware of it.

“But the supporters were there. It was a really big game for Blackburn and Bolton. The Bolton supporters really got behind their manager and their team. If Blackburn supporters had done that it might have helped them.”

His stance was backed by Newcastle boss Alan Pardew, who reckons Blackburn fans are harming their own team with their “vicious” attacks on Kean.

Pardew, who worked with Kean at Reading, said: “If they want to carry on like they are doing, all they are going to do is harm their own team. I can’t see the logic in that.

“It’s a sign of the game. I don’t know whether 20, 30 years ago, it would have been quite as vicious to Steve Kean.

“I know him well – he’s a personal friend of mine – so I have great sympathy for the position he is in.

“There are a lot of factors in why he’s receiving that. I don’t go along with it and I don’t think any member of the LMA (League Managers’ Association) would go along with it in their right mind.

“He’s trying to do the best job he can do. He has been given the job to do and that’s what he is trying to do.

“He should be left alone to do that and it will be beneficial to the team if the fans take that view.”

Celtic counterpart Neil Lennon, who also knows Kean, believes the Rovers boss seems to be in a no-win situation.

He said: “For me, it seems like he has never had the chance to do his job properly. For whatever reason, the support have never taken to him.

“Even when they were winning games like the other week, there was no pleasing supporters then.”

Everton boss Moyes had his own business to take care of on Wednesday night and oversaw an important 1-0 win over promoted Swansea at Goodison Park.

Leon Osman headed the only goal just before the hour to lift the Toffees to 11th in the table.

Moyes conceded his men, who were held to a frustrating draw by Norwich last weekend, had been made to work hard for the points by Brendan Rodgers’ side.

He said: “I think all the promoted teams will stay up this year. I can’t be sure, but the three promoted teams have done really well.”

“Swansea came very close to keeping another clean sheet. They’ve had two difficult away games at Newcastle and at Everton.

I’m sure Brendan will be disappointed with losing the game but he might be pleased that in two games away from home in the Premier League he’s only lost one goal. That’s something for him to build on.”

Everton’s Republic of Ireland winger Seamus Coleman left the action in the first half after a recurrence of a thigh injury and is unlikely to make the St Stephen’s Day trip to Sunderland.

The result was a blow for Swansea after two games unbeaten.