Gary Speed believes Bryan Robson will "come back even more determined" after fans called for the Sheffield United manager to be sacked in the wake of the goalless draw with 10-man Scunthorpe at Bramall Lane.
Grant McCann was sent-off in the 10th minute by referee Rob Styles but United failed to claim the win they needed to keep their faint play-off hopes alive.
With supporters gathering in the Bramall Lane car park to demand his dismissal following the final whistle, Robson failed to show at the post-match press conference.
That job was left to veteran Blades midfielder Speed.
"We've got to stick together in the changing room and work hard on the training ground," he said.
"Of course the crowd does not help but I've seen this before plenty of times in my career.
"You've just got to be brave and demand the ball. If you play for a big club then there are big expectation levels and fans have the right to air their grievances.
"Robbo will take this on the chin and come back even more determined."
United rarely looked like breaking Scunthorpe's resolve following McCann's dismissal; apparently for a stamp on debutant David Cotterill.
Indeed the Wales international, signed on loan from Wigan on the eve of this fixture, looked one of the few home players capable of finding a way through the visitors' defence while Jonathan Forte was a constant threat for Scunthorpe before being substituted late in the game.
Speed headed straight at Joe Murphy before the interval and, although the pressure built on the Scunthorpe goalkeeper, United could not find a way through.
Matthew Kilgallon, who replaced the injured Ugo Ehiogu, hit the woodwork after connecting with Speed's free-kick while Rob Hulse forced a fine reaction save from Murphy soon afterwards.
Billy Sharp, playing against his former club, thought he had spared United's blushes with a scissor-kick 16 minutes from time but it was deflected wide.
Scunthorpe manager Nigel Adkins said: "It underlines yet again the character and resilience we've had all season.
"I don't want to comment on the sending-off until I've seen it on video but there are people in both dressing rooms who feel that Grant was unlucky.
"We had to adapt but we looked organised and a cohesive unit.
"This wasn't a game where you could play football because the pitch was not condusive to that so it was all about set-plays and the like.
"My lads crawled off the pitch at the end. They have given their all for each other."
With supporters gathering in the Bramall Lane car park to demand his dismissal following the final whistle, Robson failed to show at the post-match press conference.
That job was left to veteran Blades midfielder Speed.
"We've got to stick together in the changing room and work hard on the training ground," he said.
"Of course the crowd does not help but I've seen this before plenty of times in my career.
"You've just got to be brave and demand the ball. If you play for a big club then there are big expectation levels and fans have the right to air their grievances.
"Robbo will take this on the chin and come back even more determined."
United rarely looked like breaking Scunthorpe's resolve following McCann's dismissal; apparently for a stamp on debutant David Cotterill.
Indeed the Wales international, signed on loan from Wigan on the eve of this fixture, looked one of the few home players capable of finding a way through the visitors' defence while Jonathan Forte was a constant threat for Scunthorpe before being substituted late in the game.
Speed headed straight at Joe Murphy before the interval and, although the pressure built on the Scunthorpe goalkeeper, United could not find a way through.
Matthew Kilgallon, who replaced the injured Ugo Ehiogu, hit the woodwork after connecting with Speed's free-kick while Rob Hulse forced a fine reaction save from Murphy soon afterwards.
Billy Sharp, playing against his former club, thought he had spared United's blushes with a scissor-kick 16 minutes from time but it was deflected wide.
Scunthorpe manager Nigel Adkins said: "It underlines yet again the character and resilience we've had all season.
"I don't want to comment on the sending-off until I've seen it on video but there are people in both dressing rooms who feel that Grant was unlucky.
"We had to adapt but we looked organised and a cohesive unit.
"This wasn't a game where you could play football because the pitch was not condusive to that so it was all about set-plays and the like.
"My lads crawled off the pitch at the end. They have given their all for each other."
Copyright (c) Press Association
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