Bentley Spurred On By Boo Boys

Blackburn Rovers midfielder David Bentley has become something of a "pantomime villain" since his decision to withdraw from the England Under-21 squad in the summer, but this doesn't worry him at all.

Since opting out of the European Under-21 Championships in the summer Bentley has been subjected to abuse from rival fans and was even booed by his own fans with every touch he made during his Senior International debut for England when he came on as a late substitute for the European Championship Qualifier against Israel.

On Saturday as Rovers travelled to the Stadium of Light to face Sunderland he was again jeered by the Sunderland fans, and he duly acknowledged this by scoring the opening goal in Rovers' 2-1 win!!! (So much for Roy Keane's, Sunderland could have beaten Rovers or Chelsea theory too, which he shared after last seasons FA Cup Semi Final!)

However, he had revealed that he draws strength from these jeers and is actually spurred on by it, he told reporters: "People pay to come and watch football matches. They want to be entertained and they want a villain, so I'm quite happy with that.

"I enjoy it to be honest. Robbie Savage is even getting worried now because I'm getting more stick than him!

"You don't want them going away being bored. I see it that they recognise I'm a good player and they want to affect me.

"But it sort of spurs me on, so I think they'd better stop really!

"Do I feel like a pantomime villain? I suppose I do a bit."

If Bents is getting more stick than Savage then things must be bad lol!


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