Ex-Sunderland player slams "brainless" Black Cats supporters for incidents over Easter weekend | OneFootball

Former Sunderland striker Marco Gabbiadini has questioned the fans who booed Tommy Watson in recent games.

Marco Gabbiadini has criticised the Sunderland fans who booed Tommy Watson in the recent defeats to Bristol City and Blackburn.

The 19-year-old has enjoyed a breakthrough campaign with the Black Cats, which prompted Brighton to try and sign the winger in the January window.

Whilst it didn’t go through at the time, it has since been confirmed that Watson will join the Seagulls in the summer, as a £10m deal has been agreed by the clubs.

Sunderland fans criticised for Tommy Watson response

Perhaps understandably, that hasn’t gone down too well among the support, particularly as the club are pushing for promotion.

Regis Le Bris clearly has no doubts about Watson’s commitment, as he continues to pick the attacker, but there were boos from the away end at Ashton Gate on Good Friday, and Watson received a mixed reaction from the home supporters against Blackburn last time out.

And, speaking to the BBC, popular ex-striker Gabbiadini revealed he wasn’t happy with how the youngster was treated by those on the terraces.

“It seems a little bit brainless to me. It's modern football. We've got players, the top players in the country, who are coming to the end of their contracts and they're still playing for their teams but talking about where they're going to be next year and they might be leaving.

“You can't do that to players. It's just the business of football. He has agreed a deal in advance of the season finishing. The club is going to do well out of it. Hopefully in the future it will be even better. He might even end up back here on loan in the summer.

“I'm glad that the majority of people did give him the support he deserves. You never know what might happen. He might have a fairy tale end to the season.”

Tommy Watson can still play a role in Sunderland’s promotion push

It’s unusual for transfers to be confirmed ahead of the summer window, and the announcement of Watson’s exit hasn’t really done anyone any favours.

You can understand all points of view, but the reality is that all of this will be forgotten when the play-offs come around.

Le Bris clearly values Watson’s impact, and all the player can do is give his all when he pulls on the red-and-white shirt.