TONY PULIS has defended the right of supporters to give their opinion on his Middlesbrough team and revealed he has “sorted one or two things out” with his players.

An exchange between Boro supporters and a small number of players took place in the immediate aftermath of Tuesday’s shock 2-0 FA Cup defeat at Newport County.

Irate fans have since used social media to give their side of the story, though it is understood no video footage of the incident exists.

Pulis did not identify individuals, but, ahead of today’s game with fellow promotion-chasers Leeds United at the Riverside, the Boro boss believes the issue has been dealt with and is eager to draw a line under it.

“I’ve spoken to the players about it. Irrespective of what reaction you get from supporters, we’re custodians of this club, we’re not here for life but those supporters are, they have been born into supporting this club.

“Their lives revolve around the club and you have to show them respect even if you are being criticised, they have the right to criticise you and say what they want as long as it’s done in the right manner.

“I can understand the supporters, but I’ve had a chat with the players and sorted one or two things out.

“I've had a good chat with them yesterday. I have to say one player did have a bit of a pop back at the supporters which is unacceptable and that's been sorted out. But the rest of it is absolute nonsense.

“And you get a lot of stuff said now, a lot of made up stuff. One day, fingers crossed, we'll got back to listening to honest journalism where people are telling the truth and people can rely in it being the truth and not all this stuff that is made up.

“I'm very, very fortunate that I'm from an era where I wouldn't even know how to get onto these websites or Twitter accounts or Facebook, all that stuff.

“But some of the stuff that I got told yesterday and some of the stuff I got told yesterday and some of the stuff we've looked into is just crazy, it's just nonsense and how these people can just make it up and people read it and believe it is just beyond me.”

Pulis’ team are fifth in the Championship, but he is yet to achieve huge popularity among the club’s supporters.

Asked if he is ever tempted to respond to any criticism he hears during a game, he said: “No. When I was younger I used to get a little bit disappointed with things and you'd get a little bit down in the dumps, but when you get older you recognise and realise that they have their moments.

“Speaking to the players yesterday, I said that's the way the world is today and you have to accept that and you have to show some respect to these people and even if it's respect by just doing nothing that's what you have to do.

“There's more vehicles out there to promote what you think. People jump on board things, it's natural, but it's water off a duck’s back.

“That's 20 years ago and not just football has changed, the whole world has changed, and football reflects society and society is different now than what it was 20 years ago and if you can't cope with it, if you can't recognise that it has changed and if you can't recognise that people are going to keep saying things and keep saying things and keep saying things, if you can't accept it don't be in it. Nobody is forcing me.”

“I’ve got no problem with what I do and if people want to criticise it then they can.

“If they want to have a look at what we have achieved here with what I’ve got then fine.

“You’re always going to get criticism everywhere you go.

“You used to go into a club and you’d get three years. The first year to clear it out, the next year to put little improvements in place and the third year to get it right and if the club wasn’t improving then off you went.

“Now, after three months people expect, but that’s the nature of the world. They expect game after game, they want and they want.

“If, as a manager and you can’t accept it, then don’t be a manager.”

Around 500 Boro supporters travelled to Wales to see their team not only beaten by League Two opposition in the televised Cup tie, but put in what was a poor performance.

The squad’s miseries continued after the match as transport issues – their plane being unable to take off – meant not arriving home until 7am on Wednesday morning.

Pulis was keen to point out, however, that Boro’s supporters also got a raw deal, saying: “The supporters travelled for 12 hours, got absolutely drenched and watched their team not perform and they are going to be disappointed, they are going to be annoyed and we have to show them the respect that they deserve.

“We're just custodians of this football club – even the players – but the supporters are born into being Middlesbrough supporters, they are here for life and they expect their team to turn up and have a go in every game, not just now and then.

“Tuesday was eventful right from the beginning. It wasn’t our day from the start to the finish.

“We spent seven hours on a bus coming back having been on the plane ready to take off for half an hour, 45 minutes, and then having to call the bus back when it was halfway down the motorway.

“We get on with it, it’s part of life. It’s happened, and we’ve got to get on with it.

“The supporters travelled 12 hours and stood on an open terrace with the rain tipping down, so it’s not just us that had a poor day of it. They got absolutely soaked and watch their team be well beaten.”