Peter Taylor has added further weight to his criticism of Eagles fans by saying their reaction to defeats has an "unhealthy" impact on his players.

The Crystal Palace boss and his team endured a torrent of abuse from home supporters following the FA Cup defeat to Preston last Saturday, and Taylor blasted their fickle nature during his post-match press conference.

And Taylor yesterday defended his outburst, telling the Croydon Guardian he was right to not mince his words because he felt the attitude of a minority of Eagles fans was having a negative effect on his team.

"I have never experienced anything like that in my life," said Taylor.

"I have managed Southend, Gillingham, Leicester, Brighton and Hull City, but it is only at Crystal Palace that one week you get cheered off for winning, then the following week they boo you off if you lose.

"You can't say we did not play well in the opening 45 minutes.

"We were beaten by an excellent goal by David Nugent that changed the match. But even after that we had chances to get back in the game."

Taylor acknowledges his latest comments are unlikely to go down well with fans, but feels his players deserve to be backed.

He said: "The supporters of our club are magnificent - the ones who travel away and the majority of the ones at home.

"But there is a minority who think it is clever to slag you off in front of their mates. It's unhealthy.

"When we were winning against Coventry, people were singing Peter Taylor, give us a wave'. A week later I'm getting booed.

"I would love people to be more realistic, which probably means I will get more stick for it, but I owe it to the players."

The Palace boss was also dumfounded at the treatment handed out to some of his young Palace stars.

England U21 internationals Tom Soares and, particularly, Ben Watson have been victims of Palace's boo-boys during a large part of their fledgling careers, something Taylor can't understand.

"Most clubs all over the country appreciate having home-grown players. But the amount of criticism Tom Soares and Ben Watson get is unbelievable," he said.

Meanwhile, Taylor has backed keeper Scott Flinders to bounce back after his late error led to Preston's decisive second goal last weekend.

The former Barnsley stopper allowed a corner to slip through his hands and it fell kindly for Kelvin Wilson to seal the Lilywhites' place in the FA Cup fifth-round draw.

Taylor said: "The goals should both have been stopped.

"To be fair, the second one is not one we would have looked at the referee and say what a terrible thing you've missed.

"Scott has found it a bit difficult coming to a large club like Crystal Palace.

"But I have got no doubt in one or two years he will be an excellent goalkeeper.

"He is bound to have a couple of setbacks on the way but he will come through it."

Flinders' rival for the number one shirt, Gabor Kiraly, has turned down a move to Sheffield United because he did not want to uproot his family.

The Hungarian, who has had loan spells at Premiership sides West Ham and Aston Villa this season, did not make the bench against Preston, with Taylor preferring Julian Speroni, who only recently returned from injury Kiraly said: "Sheffield is too far from here. My family lives in London and, what's more, I'm not forced to have a go at any opportunities.

"Peter Taylor called me about a fortnight ago to let me know about the Sheffield possibility, but he added that he counted on me "I am working for Crystal Palace again, should I be between the posts, on the bench or even, if our manager decides, out of the squad."

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