JOHN McGinlay hopes supporters will give Owen Coyle and Wanderers every chance to bounce back from their poor start to the season.

After registering just one win in four, including an embarrassing League Cup exit at the hands of League One Crawley Town, the pressure has been ramped up on the manager and his team.

But whilst the Whites goalscoring legend shares in the mood of disappointment, he has warned against a return to the poisonous atmosphere of the Gary Megson days.

“We’ve started on the wrong foot,” he said. “Relegation meant we were already on a low but then at least we had the anticipation of a fast start. That hasn’t come, and I can understand why people are upset. It hasn’t been good enough.

“What we’ve got to remember is that by carrying that feeling into games, it won’t do any good.

“There’s nothing worse than playing in a negative atmosphere – just ask anyone who stepped on the pitch while Gary Megson was in charge – because it spreads right through the team. All of a sudden people are making bad passes or hiding from the ball.

“It is hard to take at the moment but we have got to stay behind the team. If it goes wrong, then criticise and ask the question, but give them that chance.”

Such has been the reaction after Tuesday night’s defeat at the Broadfield Stadium, that Coyle’s position is being heavily scrutinised by some sections of the support.

McGinlay believes the players who passed up the opportunity to impress in the cup should be held equally culpable.

“They have got to start stepping up because they are letting the manager down, not the other way round,” he said.

“He was given the job to cut everything back, and he did it. The club is cutting their cloth accordingly now and he’s working on a lower budget.

“That’s no excuse, and the buck stops with him, but the players are better than they are showing.

“We want out of this league and Owen knows that. But I think he’s being let down at the moment because players are not doing themselves justice. They are not all playing for the team.

You have got to battle in this league or you’ve got no chance.”