Paul Heckingbottom has criticised the fans who cheered when Brad Potts was substituted against QPR on Tuesday.

The midfielder has started every league match since signing from Blackpool in the summer but some supporters have been frustrated with his performances and showed that in midweek. Heckingbottom said: “I didn’t like the reaction of our fans to Brad coming off. We can’t be having that. “We have a team that work their socks off for the fans and give everything. Brad’s ankle was swollen up like a balloon and he also had a dead leg early on but he still covered the highest sprint distance out of everyone on the pitch and ran himself into the ground. “He’s added massive strength and running power to our team.

“All the opposition managers focus on the importance of stopping him. “Brad will be fine but it’s unjust and it’s not what we are about as a club. I have no idea why he is getting that criticism and it’s massively disappointing. The fans have a part to play in us getting better. It is just a minority but we need every fan to be behind us.

“It shows a lack of understanding because expectations have been raised. The majority of our fans understand that we have had to start again after losing the majority of our players, and no one is as frustrated as me about that.

“I am in and around the town every day and I know the majority of fans I speak to understand it. “I don’t want Oakwell to be a place where the players get the fans going, I want it to be the other way around.”

Club captain Angus MacDonald added: “Brad is amazing at what he does so for the fans to cheer him off is a bit disrespectful. He has been amazing on and off the pitch and the lads love him.”