IMMY CALDERWOOD last night called on the Aberdeen boo-boys to lay off Derek Young.
The midfielder faces another battle to win over his critics after he was targeted throughout Tuesday's 2-0 SPL win over St Mirren at Pittodrie.
Unhappy Aberdeen supporters even cheered when Young was eventually subbed.
The episode is the latest setback for the player whose return to the Granite City in July last year, after his release from Partick Thistle, was met by protests from many of the Red Army.
But 28-year-old Young, signed as a squad player, turned the jeers to cheers with his committed displays that helped the Dons reach the last 32 in the UEFA Cup. Calderwood said: "It was very disappointing certain fans took their frustrations out on Derek.
"I felt sorry for him because he doesn't deserve it. He might have the odd bad game but never hides and always gives 100 per cent for the team.
"I'm quite sure some of the fans who barracked him have bad days at work. Everyone does now and then.
"I know what I'll get when he is in the team and he will never fail for lack of effort. I have never seen any player improve by being jeered by his own fans every time he touched the ball.
"To get to where we want to go we need all our supporters united behind the team. We get that in away games with magnificent fans who back the players all the way and they have responded by getting results. It's rather sad this isn't the case at Pittodrie."
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http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/spl/aberdeen/2008/11/13/fans-must-give-derek-young-a-break-blasts-aberdeen-boss-jimmy-calderwood-86908-20891378/