Kevin Campbell sympathised with Darren Carter after the midfielder was targeted by disgruntled home supporters following West Bromwich Albion's painful 1-0 home defeat against Sunderland on Saturday.

After Sunderland's goal, a minority of supporters booed Carter whenever he touched the ball, as the atmosphere turned sour at The Hawthorns.

Campbell has also been the recipient of some rough treatment from Albion supporters during this troubled season, as has Ronnie Wallwork.

However, Carter can draw solace from the fact that Wallwork left the field to a standing ovation when substituted four minutes from time and that Campbell is no longer the butt of abuse from home fans either.

Yet, speaking from personal experience, Campbell sent out a caveat to supporters that, while he understood their frustrations, any form of barracking was ultimately divisive.

"The fans are bitterly disappointed and rightly so, but so are the players as we didn't perform," Campbell said.

"I don't know why Darren was getting booed. Darren tried ever so hard and he has been one of our better players this season.

"Booing doesn't do anybody any good and we are all in this together. It is very difficult when you hear people booing. If you are going to boo then there is no point in you being here.

"We have got no time for anyone who wants to boo because we have got to be a club going in the same direction.

"We need the fans to drive us on, which in the second half they really tried to do."

"We just couldn't respond, which isn't like us. The fans are in it with us and no one likes to see people getting booed. Both Ronnie (Wallwork) and I have been booed earlier this season but we are all in it together."

Nevertheless, despite Campbell's plea for unity, he says that supporters were right to be disappointed with the team's collective performance.

The tension was palpable during the second half as Albion's performance degenerated and Sunder-land grew in stature.

It was Campbell's 450th appearance in League football and it is doubtful whether he has ever experienced such a deflating experience in his long career.

He has been round the block more than enough times to recognise the warning signs unless Albion stop committing hara-kiri on a regular basis.

"The manager is bitterly disappointed and he has had a go at all of us," a contrite Campbell said.

"He knows that we didn't even turn up against Sunderland. After last week, when we put in a great shift against Wigan, we have just undone all the good work again. If this club is going to progress and be a mainstay of the Premier League then we have to stop shooting ourselves in the foot.

"We can't give up games like this at home. I think that when we play at home sometimes the anxiety in our crowd gets to our players.

"The crowd desperately want us to win, as do we. But when you come up against a team who are playing without fear, and that doesn't really care because they are so far away, they become a dangerous outfit to play against.

"We need the crowd to be the extra man for us. The fans tried to do it but it is difficult for them to do it when we are not performing on the pitch.

"The players understand that but we really do need them because we aren't over that hill yet whereby we can say we are safe.

"However, there is no complacency at this football club. We can't afford complacency as we know how difficult it is to dig ourselves out.

"We didn't perform on the day in front of our fans and when you don't perform in front of your own fans then you are going to get moans and groans and you are going to get stick.

"We didn't perform, but we have to take it on the chin and try to bounce back."