Stoke City boss Tony Pulis has hit out at the local media.
Pulis was unhappy at the reaction to City's midweek defeat at Liverpool and voiced those concerns after the dramatic 3-2 victory over Sunderland.
He told Stoke's website: "I think sometimes outside influences try to undermine what you are doing and what you are trying to achieve. We, as a Football Club, have got to make sure we are wary of that.
"We have got to avoid falling into what I think is a vacuum that sometimes you don't get out of.
"I just think there was a lot of negativity from both our local radio station and local newspaper following the game at Liverpool, and that is very, very poor. These are people who are supposed to be supporting this Football Club and we think it is fair and reasonable that they should be more supportive than the national media.
"We take enough stick from people outside of the area, but to take criticism from the local press is pretty annoying and disappointing.
"They have to do what they have to do, but we will be strong and just get on with things. We are not above criticism, we just want them to be objective with their reporting. But I suppose the more negative they are at times, the more papers they will sell.
"The same goes for the radio, the more negativity on there, the more listeners they will get. I just think it is hugely disappointing and very frustrating.
"All we can do as a football club is stand strong, stick together and be very, very wary that we don't drop into this chasm that a lot of clubs fall into.
"A lot of teams have been sucked into it over the years, so together the club and the supporters have got to make absolutely sure we don't do that."
