Painters Sadness At Abuse

Marcos Painter has stated that he is still surprised at the reaction to the fans after last week’s 0-0 draw with Brighton. Painter was targeted for abuse by one fan in particular – something which he claimed put him off his game.

Painter has been an almost ever present this season in the Swans side – he missed a few games through injury – and his presence adds to the defence and also in our attacking options. He has linked up well with whoever has played in front of him on the left hand side and I believe him to be one of the more consistent performers to date.

But it was just 7 days ago that Painter was given stick for his part in a drab 0-0 draw with Brighton which bought predictions of doom and gloom to Swansea who were, at that stage in some quarters involved in a ‘desperate fight against relegation’ A week later, and two wins later the Swans are 4th in the league and within touching distance of top place.

Speaking in today’s News of the World, Painter said “It was very upsetting to get that abuse from a Swansea fan. It came as a bit of a shock to me. It was the first time in my career something like that has happened to me.

“I played a few games for Birmingham and no-one there ever had a go at me. The Birmingham fans were always fine with me. They do try to get behind their players at St Andrews. But a minority of Swansea fans have been getting on our backs. You expect stick when you’re away but not from your own fans at home.

“They do demand success at Swansea, and there seem to be a few boo boys waiting to have a go. This bloke was dishing out more stick to me than he was to the Brighton players. It did affect my game because I am a young player and I started to doubt myself. The only consolation was the fact it was just one fan and not a group!

“I’ve seen Birmingham booed off the pitch at home but their fans never targeted individual players.”

It does seem counter productive to give any one of our players a slating during a match and certainly if it is going to affect their performances. The problem we have at the Liberty remains that for large periods of the game we have silence and these minority voices get heard too easily. Raise the noise and they get drowned out.

Keep going Marcos. We appreciate you.