I'm developing some sympathy for the plight of Albion striker Paul Kitson. Before I am sectioned under the Mental Health Act, let me clarify what I mean.

Make no mistake, Kitson is Premiership class but he has hardly kicked a ball in anger since signing last summer due to a succession of injuries. Fans, irked by his long periods of inactivity, have turned against him because they don't think they are getting value for money.

Take last Saturday. Although now off the injury list, Kitson isn't match fit so unless Steve Coppell had a Saturday morning injury crisis he was never likely to feature in the game against Nottingham Forest.

Kitson could so easily improve his standing with supporters by following the example set by Paul Rogers.

Dodge does not play too often these days but can be seen watching games at the back of the North Stand and chatting with supporters. Kitson should do the same, at least it would show he cares.

Football fans can be a fickle bunch. They pay their money and are entitled to their opinions. But one Kitson goal (against Palace next Tuesday would be nice) and all will be forgiven.

Sadly, Martin Hinshelwood will never have a chance to redeem himself. If I've got some sympathy for Kitson, you can multiply it ten-fold for Hinsh.

I really enjoy a pre-match pint in The Sportsman where I can chew the cud with fellow fans. But it miffs me to hear, five months after he was sacked, supporters claiming if Albion go down it's all Hinshelwood's fault.

Albion, under Coppell, have responded brilliantly after that appalling start to the season when they looked relegation certainties and have given themselves a chance of remaining in Division One.

Their destiny is in their own hands, so from this point on, how can Hinsh shoulder the blame?

I still think Hinshelwood, given the right set of circumstances, could have been a good manager. Results are what managers are judged on, although they don't always tell the whole story.

Contrary to what a number of people outside Sussex think, Albion are not a one man team but without talisman Bobby Zamora, they do struggle.

Under Hinsh, Zamora missed seven League matches after getting injured against Norwich and Albion lost the lot. Under Coppell, he has missed just two games.

In six of those matches in which Zamora was absent, goalkeeper Michel Kuipers was also out injured, so there is a case for saying the gods had it in for Hinsh from day one.

It could have been worse. Imagine how fans would have reacted had Hinsh been in charge for the Palace game with the same result?

Remember, he was not first choice. Chairman Dick Knight was prepared to gamble on Wilfred Schaffer, the man in charge of Cameroon for last year's World Cup. The deal was called off at the 11th hour when the German's wage demands became too much.

Hinsh was in the wrong place at the wrong time, now he is in the right place doing a great job as director of youth.

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