Steve Wigley and Kevin Phillips have called on Saints fans to stay behind the team after some angry reactions following their defeat at Fulham.

Plenty of Saints fans made the journey to Craven Cottage but were disappointed to see a fifth defeat of the season in seven league games and vented their feelings.

The major flashpoint came when Anders Svensson was taken off on 61 minutes to be replaced by Neil McCann.

Svensson reacted angrily to the decision and refused to sit in the dugout, instead spending the last half hour sat on the ground further up the touchline with his head in his hands.

Saints fans booed and chanted 'you don't know what you're doing' at Wigley while chairman Rupert Lowe was also a target for abuse.

After the game chants of 'what a load of rubbish' were directed at the players and Phillips was clearly unhappy.

He said: "I was disappointed with the fans at the end and what they were singing because the lads were trying their hardest and we were all disappointed with the way they reacted.

"When I was at Sunderland I said to the supporters there as well 'we need you'.

"We tried our hardest and need them to support us.

"During the game they were fantastic but towards the end they let themselves down a bit."

Wigley added: "It's better they aim it at me than the players because I remember when I was a player and took a bit of stick it was a lot harder because I was expected to produce something.

"All I've got to do now is stand there and take the flack and it's much better it comes my way than the players."

He continued: "The supporters vented their feelings, they've paid their money and they're entitled to do that.

"I think it was a little bit harsh on the players but it was probably aimed at me."

Speaking of Svensson's reaction, Wigley added: "I'd have expected him to be disappointed - if I'd have come off I'd have been the same. I was no different.

"You'll see that round all the grounds on a Saturday afternoon when players come off.

"If they come off with a smile on their face and happy then I'm afraid they shouldn't be out on the pitch in the first place.

"It's something that me and Anders will sit and talk about and I'll explain why I made the substitution.

"It was made in the best interests of the team - in no way knocking Anders or his performance - but substitutions are made a lot more these days."

Phillips uncharacteristically failed to convert a couple of good chances as Saints' stretched their run to just six wins and 15 defeats in their last 28 Premiership matches, but insisted: "We can't lay down and die now - we've got to stand up and be counted.

"If we would have turned our chances into goals then we would have won this game."

Diehard Saints fan Dave Ford, a member of the Fair Oak supporters club, admitted he didn't back supporters who sang 'what a load of rubbish' at the final whistle.

"I don't agree with singing that song. It's not the players' fault - you couldn't fault their commitment," he said.

"If we start to get on their backs then it's not going to make the situation any better.

"We should be directing our anger and frustration at Rupert Lowe - he's made a lot of decisions in the last year and the fans I speak to don't think he's made many right ones."