Forest boss Davies hits back at boo-boys

By dparkinson

BILLY Davies today questioned the 'lack of respect' he was shown by Nottingham Forest fans at Doncaster – and appealed for people to judge him at the end of the season.

Sections of the 3,000-plus travelling support at the Keepmoat Stadium jeered the Scots' substitutions during the 1-0 defeat.

The Reds boss, who left both top scorers Dexter Blackstock and Robert Earnshaw out of the starting line-up, said he would continue to make tough decisions as he seeks to get the club's promotion push back on track.

And he said he wanted to be judged on his decision-making when the season comes to an end – not during games.

"This was a little bit sad; a little bit disappointing for me. But that is modern football. That is the type of respect you get in modern football," he said.

"I don't care. I don't care whether people have faith. I will never change. I said before that this team is not ready for the Premier League.

"Do people think I am a fool?

"People need to remember the only reason Forest are playing Championship football this season is because of the job that Billy Davies did last season, to save this club from relegation.

"Great credit has to be given for that. We now find ourselves in the Championship, with 14 games left, and we are in the top three. End of story.

"The fans are what they are, it is up to them. There are positives and negatives coming all the time and it is about how you stay together as a team, as a club.

"It is about how you keep that positive energy. At the end of the day, that is why you have great supporters and average supporters at different clubs.

"Great supporters know how to stay behind players through thick and thin; they know how to stay behind the manager through thick and thin.

"They understand what a great job is being done and that great credit has to be given for that.

"Sometimes that happens at clubs, sometimes it doesn't."