'I understand it and it's hurt me' - Grant McCann on Doncaster Rovers fans' fury after Exeter defeat
Doncaster Rovers manager Grant McCann says he can "understand" the abuse hurled at him and his players after their chastening defeat at Exeter.
Rovers suffered a sobering loss down in Devon, losing 3-0 against a Grecians side that last won a league game in late January.
Despite the hosts' perilous position in the relegation places, they played like a team possessed against Rovers, with Jayden Wareham opening the scoring just before half-time. Sub Josh Magennis doubled the lead midway through the second half before Wareham completed his brace in the latter stages.
More than 500 Rovers fans made the arduous journey down south and of those of who stayed until the end, a smattering were vocally critical of McCann and his players.
Speaking post-match, the Northern Irishman said: "It's not a place where I want to be, where I'm being booed off by our fans. It's certainly not something I want to be a part of. Our fans pay hard-earned money to come and follow us away from home. They're unbelievable and I think that's probably a first for me, where I'm being told to f*** off.
"I totally understand it and that's hurt me. That has really hurt me. I hope the players felt that as well.
"It's not where I want this football club to be. I don't want to be a part of it at all. We worked so hard as a staff to get this club into League One. Worked so hard as a group of players to get into League One. To hear that from our supporters today is not going to be
beneficial to anyone. But I understand that they pay their hard-earned money and they're allowed to vent off frustrations."
On the performance as a whole, McCann added: "As bad as we were, we had enough opportunities to score. But we don't really test the keeper too severely. I think what's happened today is we were out-muscled, we were out-ran, we were out-fought. They were more aggressive than us and they wanted it more than us. I don't know whether some of our players in the changing room are sitting there thinking that we've got 50 points, we're safe. We're not. We need another win.
"And that's not how I like to speak because I want to try and put this football club to a position where we're getting out of this league. We just lacked any sort of hunger or desire today."
Prior to the opening goal Rovers lost not one but two centre-halves when Neill Byrne and Matty Pearson both hobbled off injured.
McCann confirmed that Pearson suffered a dead leg whilst Byrne's premature exit was owing to a hamstring-related concern.
Rovers are now just four points above Exeter, who occupy the last relegation place. McCann's side have a worse goal difference but do have a game in hand on them.