THE BESIEGED figure of Steve McClaren last night insisted guiding Middlesbrough out of the doldrums is much more important than winning a personal battle to secure the hearts and minds of supporters.
Having had to deal with the fall-out of Saturday's alarming home defeat to Aston Villa - when there were calls for the manager's removal and claims striker Mark Viduka clashed with supporters - preparations for tonight's FA Cup replay with Coventry could have been better.
But, while disgruntled fans have waited until now to air their frustrations towards the boss, McClaren has always struggled to endear himself to the Boro faithful.
McClaren's ambitions to move on to bigger things, which he has never tried to hide, have contributed to the poor perception the fans have of him, even though he is the most successful manager in the club's 129-year history.
As well as guiding Boro to a first major trophy in 2004, he also became the first manager on Teesside to secure a UEFA Cup place via league placing last season, when they finished in a record seventh spot.
It was only a few months ago when he was voted their best manager ever in a poll conducted on the club's official website. Yet even then there was no adulation from the Riverside hordes.
"Why aren't I popular now? What do you mean now! I don't know," said McClaren, whose side have recorded just one win in their last 11 Premiership fixtures. "My job is to win football matches and get results. When we're getting them and going well, we accept the praise. When we're not we accept the criticism.
"It's part and parcel of the game. I fully understand it. I know how much the fans care. This is a very passionate football club, we're not delivering at the moment and the fans aren't happy.
"It doesn't bother me whether they chant my name or not, the only thing that bothers me is that we bring them a winning football team.
"There's nothing gives me greater pleasure than seeing the smiles on their faces when we win matches. They are the ones we are playing for."
McClaren, although adamant he worries more about results than what people think of him, does concede he may change his ways in a bid to win over those who vilified him at the weekend.
But the former Manchester United No 2 has no intention of changing until Premiership status is assured and a decent run in the FA Cup has been achieved, starting tonight at home to Coventry.
"Maybe I could have done more in the past (to have the supporters like him). Maybe we'll look at that in the future," said McClaren, who had one fan throw his season ticket at him after conceding the fourth goal in the defeat to Villa.
"I feel my job for the fans is to give them a winning football team and bring them success. Whenever I go around town and speak to people, 90-95 per cent have been fantastic, supportive and understanding.
"They know we've had four and a half years and the last two months have not been the best. I would rather it stopped at me than be targeted at the players."
McClaren had a quick meeting with chairman Steve Gibson after the weekend reversal and knows the man at the top will do what he thinks is best for the club.
There is no special friendship between the pair, as was the case when Bryan Robson was at the helm, and it would be easier for Gibson to wield the axe if things don't take a turn for the better.
But McClaren is trying not to allow the growing pressures of management to get to him.
"He's a very successful businessman who understands the ebbs and flows of business," said the Boro boss.
"He's passionate about his business and football. He knows there are cycles. He's seen worse times than this and we all want to get out of this. I try not to let it affect me. I can't afford to."
McClaren has likened the current situation to that which he faced in his first month in charge at Boro - when he lost to Arsenal, Bolton, Everton and Newcastle.
Boro emerged through that and he hopes the same will occur now, viewing tonight's FA Cup replay with Coventry as the perfect starting point.
"After those first four games in management I was wondering myself whether I was pointless and clueless.
"But since then I've had many more experiences, good and bad," said McClaren, who was 'disappointed' to learn his former player Jonathan Greening claimed he knew of dressing room unrest at Boro.
"Eventually the sun will shine again. There will be better days. It's how you come through it. I'm determined to fight my way through it."
"We need the backing at home for the replay and for the players to stand up and take responsibility. That's part of being a professional sportsman."
Defender Chris Riggott is available tonight after recovering from his ankle injury, while George Boateng and James Morrison could be back for the weekend's visit of Chelsea
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