Press article:

Lay off the Boo's - 11/04/2002

ROBBIE ELLIOTT has pleaded with the Toon Army not to jeopardise Newcastle's Champions League assault.

Geordie Elliott and his team-mates were stunned by the hostile response to Newcastle's 1-1 draw against Fulham on Monday night. Bobby Robson's players were booed off and striker Carl Cort was made the butt of fans' frustration - even though the point hoisted the club back into fourth spot in the Premiership.

Full-back Elliott, back at the club he joined as a teenager, admitted he was 'very surprised' by their reaction. He said: "I have never known them to be like that in all my time here. We were 1-0 up and the fans were booing. It doesn't make sense. "I can understand that the fans are on edge but if they are on edge, how do they think the players feel? It does us no favours when the crowd act like that."

Cort, still not fully match- fit after fighting his way back from a lengthy injury lay-off, and Frenchman Laurent Robert came in for particular criticism. But Elliott fears the boo-boys could seriously hinder the club's European bid. He added: "The fans are starting to pick on certain players but I hope that will end pretty quickly. "Carl Cort is an outstanding player. He is only young and it baffles me why he's being picked on. I don't know what they think they are going to get from booing. "The supporters pay their money and it is up to them what they say. But it would be nice if we all got together and moved forward. "There are only five games to go and if we get together we can still qualify for the Champions League."

The Sun

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