SAMMY McIlroy fired a broadside back at the Christie Park boo-boys ahead of the former friends re-united blockbuster at Forest Green Rovers.

McIlroy leads his men into battle with ex-Shrimp chief Jim Harvey on Saturday - but is hurting after sections of his own fans got on his back during the 2-2 draw with Cambridge United on Saturday, a result which saw a team made up of walking wounded maintain their play-off push.

The Ulsterman was stunned to hear sections of the crowd aiming abuse in his direction during the game but fired back: "I have had 60,000 people calling for my head in the past and if I can handle 60,000 people calling for me then I can handle this lot."

McIlroy had to perform a head count before naming his team for the Conference clash - and then had to field Adam Yates, Wayne Curtis and Danny Carlton despite the trio not being 100 per cent fit.

Adds McIlroy: "We are up against it here a little at the moment but there are some sections of the crowd that want me to fail. Even the players have said that and I am disappointed with that attitude.

"The previous manager had 12 years or whatever here. I have been here a year, I don't know what they expect and I am disappointed with that.

"But the players give 110 per cent and I am proud of every one of them. Yates, Curtis and Carlton were thrown in and were not 100 per cent and they did that for myself and Mark Lillis."

The Shrimps are still well placed for the play-offs and an upbeat McIlroy adds: "There is a long way to go but there seems to be a section here and I do not know what they want but I will battle through."

Saturday sees the return with Forest Green with the heat very much on both managers, especially after Harvey refused to shake McIlroy's hand following November's 1-1 draw.