Russell Martin admits he understands the boos from supporters after Swansea City's miserable defeat to Stoke City.
The Swans made a dream start against the Potters as Morgan Whittaker struck his first goal for the club since returning from his loan spell with Plymouth Argyle after just two minutes.
But Josh Laurent notched a quickfire brace soon after before Lewis Baker drilled home in injury-time to ensure Alex Neil's men left south Wales with all three points.
Swansea supporters jeered at full-time following what was their side's fourth defeat in five outings. And Martin admits the club's hangover from the well-documented mess of the January transfer window has proven hugely damaging.
"I understand that. You don't want to hear it but you understand it," he said of the boos.
"It's really difficult because it's been a tough moment for us in so many ways. Results-wise it's been tough, but we're sitting 12th in the league with the youngest team in the league and the smallest squad in the league.
"We have a really clear way of doing things that's filtered throughout the club into the under-21s and under-18s. People don't care about the big picture, I understand that, but we were given three things to develop when we came here.
"It was to bring back the Swansea Way that people spoke about, it was to promote young players from within or to find young talent at a good price that we can help develop and turn into assets, and I think those two boxes are ticked.
"The other one was to try and get as close to the play-offs as possible. The budget is far lower than where we are in the table now. I get the negativity because so many people at the club have felt it as well in the weeks after January. It's football, people only see the result. I totally get that.
"We care and we have as much love for the people at this club because we see them work every day. We care just as much as them (supporters)."
Swansea have now conceded 50 goals in their 33 league fixtures this season, the joint-worst tally with bottom side Wigan Athletic in the Championship.
And Martin says the Swans urgently need to address their defensive woes, despite making it a key area to solve in the most recent summer transfer window.
"We're paying for a really poorly managed 20 minutes," he said after the loss to Stoke.
"We want the players to play and be brave but there were too many times where people were giving the ball when they shouldn't have been, they were under huge pressure.
"When we did miss the press and went forward a bit quicker, there were some brilliant moments. But there were too many where we let them regain the ball too quickly and too easily. The anxiety was huge in the team.
"So to concede two goals in that time is just so disappointing after a great start. The goals we concede far outweigh the expected goals against us, it's the biggest swing in the league, negatively.
"Too many of them (goals conceded) have been set-pieces. We need to really address that, whether it's down to personnel and size and all that stuff, but we've actually got more size in the team than we did last year and it's been a huge problem for us, we concede another one tonight and that sets them off.
"Of course it's a concern but we have to try and find a way to stop that. We have a lot of young players in the team that will be better for this experience.
"I can't come out and defend that really, we've conceded far too many goals, too many individual mistakes.
"In the lead up to the set-piece they score from, we go down wanting a foul, it's just moments like that the players will be better for in the long-term. We have to go through a lot of pain unfortunately with young players."
Swansea return to action against Rotherham United on Monday night.
READ MORE:
