Taylor Warned To Watch Out For The Bullies!

Last updated : 06 September 2007 By Footy Mad - Editor

Pearce has backed his players to show maturity and restraint if they are targeted with racism during their Euro 2009 qualifier in Montenegro.

As skipper a lot of pressure is put on the Newcastle youngster to lead his players through, what seems like, a tough night for the black players in the team.

Taylor says it is "the highest honour to captain your country", and he will sure to be in the thick of it if any bullying takes place.

Rangers' Champions League qualifier against FK Zeta in Podgorica was marred by abuse aimed at black players from sections of the crowd.

Pearce believes his new squad will deal with any problems professionally as they did in the summer during the finals of the previous tournament when Nedum Onuoha and Justin Hoyte were subjected to sickening abuse against Serbia.

Serbian fans made monkey chants at Onuoha - who is in the squad for Friday's clash against Serbia's neighbours - while Hoyte was abused by players.

Pearce: "If it occurs you deal with it in the right and proper manner, you don't let it affect your performance.

"That's giving into bullying.

"You get on with the job as best you can and keep your dignity about you. We did that in the summer."

"It's the only way to deal with it, to carry on doing your job and to win the game and let the authorities deal with any problems that come from it.

"We did that, great credit to the FA and to the players especially.

"It brought the squad closer together, black and white players. We went on to the next game and we were a stronger unit for it. Adversity draws people together.

"Some of these young boys might not have experienced racism, I don't know.

"What I do know is the maturity I see around the dressing room, the way the likes of Justin Hoyte and Nedum Onuoha before during and after any problems they received."

The clash in Podgorica is the first qualifier on the road to Sweden in 2009, with the squad then travelling to Bulgaria for another match on Tuesday.