Iain Dowie has hit out at the fans that jeered Julian Gray during the second half of Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Reading.
The pacey left-winger played through injury at the weekend and still put in a creditable performance. But that was not enough for some of those at Selhurst Park, who booed the midfielder as he tired in the second half. And his manager admits he is mystified as to why Gray came in for such abuse.
"I just can't understand it," said Dowie. "He was clearly the best player on the pitch in the first half by an absolute country mile."
"I imagine it is only a very small minority giving him stick and they can't be seeing what I am seeing."
After angling for a move in the early stages of the season, Gray was returned to the first team by caretaker-manager Kit Symons. And since Dowie’s appointment, the 24-year-old has been in scintillating form.
"Julian is bringing an awful lot to this team. We've won six and had one draw in the last eight games, and he has been right at the heart of that," Dowie added.
"He has been fantastic for this club since I’ve been here and he shouldn't get any sort of stick like that."