Lay off Elliott, boss tells fans

Stephen Elliott" class="imageframe alignright" height="130" src="http://www.shropshirestar.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/elliott_stephen.jpg" width="175"/>Wolves manager Mick McCarthy today called on fans to lay off striker Stephen Elliott - or risk leaving their team "a man down".

The Molineux boss is worried that further boos from the stands could wear away at the Irishman's confidence and damage Wolves' hopes of building a promotion challenge in the second half of the season.

"There's no point dressing up what happened when he went on for Andy Keogh against Sheffield United," said McCarthy.

"Whether the crowd were booing my decision to take Keogh off, which was based on the medical issue, or the fact that it wasn't Freddy Eastwood going on, I don't know.

"Whether it was all at me or there was an element at Stephen as well, if we're not careful we're going to be a man down.

"It will affect him and we might lose the strengths of a very good player and it's not right that.

"I've seen that at other clubs and never thought from last season it would happen here but I was really disappointed with that reaction."

McCarthy has again leapt to the defence of summer signing Elliott, who remains the club's leading scorer with four League goals in 11 starts.

And he is anxious to ensure that the former Sunderland player, who turned 24 this week, does not become a scapegoat for Wolves seven-match winless run in the Championship.

Wolves appeared to have reached deadlock in their pursuit of Brann left-back Erlend Hanstveit - but the deal is not dead.

A Norwegian delegation flew to England for talks on Monday night but left without agreement after rejecting Wolves' £500,000 offer.