Leeds United manager Kevin Blackwell is backing Sean Gregan to put last weekend's sickening attack on his family behind him.

Gregan plays against West Ham at Upton Park tonight, though he considered quitting the game to become a brickie after louts shouted abuse at his 14-month old son and heavily pregnant wife after the home defeat against Leicester.

Blackwell said: "Sean has been brilliant in training since the incident. He's a tough, strong character. Fire bullets at him and he'll take it, but fire them at his wife and children and that's going too far.

"I can't condone what those people did to Sean and his family, though I can understand the outpouring of frustration at what has happened to this club over the last three years.

"Everybody wants something positive to happen. These are hard times at Leeds and we are all in this predicament together. As a manager and as a team we have a responsibility to give the fans something to shout about.

"We have to look at ourselves and ask questions. When the players came here I told them it would be a difficult time. They need broad shoulders.

"But it is also a time when people need to climb off the players' backs and encourage them to play for Leeds United."

Gregan has been inundated with messages of support and three members of a fans' website visited the training ground with a bouquet of flowers for his wife Melissa and a teddy bear for his son Nathan.

Gregan said: "There are a few idiots but I want to play for Leeds and I'm not going to let them spoil it for me."

Defender Clarke Carlisle is ruled out by an ankle injury, so York-born Matthew Kilgallon, who has thrown off an ankle injury and spent three months on loan at West Ham last season, switches to central defence, with Danny Pugh returning at left-back.

Gary Kelly and Brian Deane have recovered from groin and hamstring injuries, respectively, so Deane faces one of his former clubs.

Updated: 11:50 Friday, December 10, 2004