Gary Caldwell has told the critics who hit out over Scotland's defeat by Macedonia that they should be "embarrassed" by their reaction.
The Scotland defender argued it was far too early to write off their World Cup qualification hopes following the 1-0 loss in their opening game.
The Celtic defender felt Scotland deserved a point following a positive second-half display in the searing heat of Skopje.
And he is convinced a siege mentality among the players can help get their campaign on track on Wednesday with victory in Iceland, who drew 2-2 with Norway at the weekend.
But the 26-year-old wishes there was no need for such entrenchment.
"To judge it over one game is incredible, to say we are out this early," Caldwell said.
"We know we have got a team that is capable of winning games and qualifying.
"The reaction is a bit embarrassing to be honest - that people can judge people so early and jump on it as much as they do.
"They need to take a look at themselves really and get behind the country because we are all trying to do something that has not been done for a long time. A little bit of help would come in handy.
"I think it brings us together even more and creates a bit of a mentality that it's just us, and it really shouldn't be like that. It should be the whole country pulling in the same direction."
George Burley has found himself under pressure after defeat in his first competitive match in charge followed failure to win in three friendly games, but Caldwell insists the squad has been impressed by his methods.
"He (Burley) is trying to make us more attacking and take us past the 'we're just not going to get beat' stage," Caldwell added.
"To qualify for finals, I think you have to do that, I think you have to be a team that wins matches.
"He is trying to do that, we are trying to do that and I'll think we will get it right.
"I have played in plenty of Scotland games in the past away from home where you feel like you are never out your own half and taken a pounding and won 1-0.
"For all that the fans and media think that's excellent, as players you have to develop.
"In the second half there was a big change in the way we approached the game and the way we played football.
"If we can do that and get the results, then we are going in the right direction."
Caldwell has endured plenty of criticism from Celtic fans since moving from Easter Road two years ago.
But he has consistently been backed strongly by club boss Gordon Strachan and helped Celtic to two title wins and success in Europe.
So he is sure the Scotland squad can emerge stronger from a run of six games without victory.
"I've learned over the last few years, you have to be strong and take a lot of flak," Caldwell explained.
"If you can, you will come out the other end and you will be successful. There's an anxiety in the changing room, we want to win again more than anybody.
"We are here to prove people wrong and I really hope we will. Fans are very emotional and look at the game emotionally and results are the be-all and end-all.
"As players we have to look at performances and reasons for certain things, and take positives and work on the negatives. We will do that and we will get it right on Wednesday."
