ALAN STUBBS cut a dejected figure after Sunderland's calamitous collapse against fellow strugglers Portsmouth, but the honest talking defender insists supporters were wrong to single out under-fire goalkeeper Kelvin Davis, writes Paul Fraser.

Stubbs was just as much to blame, perhaps more so, for Portsmouth's second goal when the centre-back's collision with Davis allowed midfielder Matthew Taylor to stroke the ball into an empty net.

From that point Sunderland caved in as Portsmouth ended 4-1 winners and every touch Davis had was either booed or ironically cheered until the final whistle by a large section of boo boys.

The fact even one disgruntled supporter felt the need to go onto the pitch and tell the £1.25m summer buy exactly what he thought of him highlighted an atmosphere of discontent around the Stadium of Light.

But Stubbs believes the reaction of fans will have had a dreadful effect on the whole squad - suggesting there will be more anxiety when Sunderland head into back-to-back home games with Aston Villa and Birmingham after this Saturday's trip to Arsenal.

"It wasn't good and I'm sure when people sit down and think about it they will see they were wrong. We need them as much as they need us. It's as simple as that," said the 33-year-old.

"The fans are a strength for us, but what they do can sometimes lead to weakness. We have got a young team on the pitch. I'm experienced and if someone boos me then so be it, but we have got a lot of young players and people need to realise that.

"It's going to be preying on the players' minds now. Hopefully they won't be anxious, but I'm sure they will be thinking that if they make a mistake what's going to happen.

"That's the last thing we want to start creeping in. We want players to go onto the pitch full of confidence and not afraid to make a mistake. But if it carries on, players will become nervous."

Some fans are claiming Davis has been at fault for six of the side's defeats since the return to the Premiership - suggesting he made mistakes against Charlton, Wigan, Chelsea, West Brom, United and now Pompey.

However, Stubbs is standing by the man behind him.

"It's not an individual thing when people get criticised. It's not right. In fact, it's wrong. I'd like to thank all the fans who tried to get behind Kelvin afterwards and that's the way it should be. We're all disappointed," said the stand-in skipper in Gary Breen's absence.

"But take their third goal - a 45 yarder - if Thierry Henry or someone like that had scored we would be saying what a world class goal, but because of what happened people will probably be looking at it as someone's fault.

"I know which way Kelvin will go from this. He will pick himself up, dust himself down, come into work on Monday and be the first to stay behind in training and work on what he thinks is not right."

* Sunderland's Premiership fixture with Liverpool has been rearranged for Wednesday, November 30.

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