WANDERERS chairman Ken Anderson has hit out at “negative” media reports containing statistics which underline the club’s poor start to the campaign.

Saturday’s narrow defeat against Aston Villa confirmed the club’s worst start to a season since 1902, a milestone which was repeated around the local and national media.

The fact Wanderers have struggled to score, without a goal in 12-and-a-half hours, has also been mentioned in most accounts of the 1-0 reverse at Villa Park.

But the statistics have prompted a curt response from Anderson, who has urged Phil Parkinson and his team to ignore the numbers.

“I don't know if you are like myself, but l find it very uninteresting when the media constantly harp on about historical match statistics, which in my opinion are irrelevant, other than they are a fact of history, but actually have no relevance of what is or isn't going to happen on the pitch,” he wrote on the official club website.

“The manager's and my message to the players and staff is to ignore the negativity and focus on the job ahead, as that's all that matters - not statistics.”

Anderson also highlighted the positive response from travelling fans at Villa Park, many of whom applauded the players’ efforts in the Midlands in what proved a tight game.

“Fortunately, you - the supporters - continue to get behind the team and lift them through thick and thin and I can assure you that everyone appreciates that show of support,” he wrote.

“I have no doubt that at the end of the season, we will all look back on the start and remember how everyone pulled together and we overcame the challenges in front of us.”