"I don't think the criticism has been over the top. We have drawn against Israel and we have drawn against Macedonia. With the quality of players we have, these are games we should be winning," said the Liverpool skipper.
"As an England player, if you are not getting results, you deserve to be criticised.
"We know he [McClaren] has taken it in the neck after Saturday but the players have to take a lot of responsibility for that.
"We are right behind Steve. He is preparing us right and coaching us right. He is telling us the right things.
"It is us who are going there and underperforming and underachieving. It is down to myself and the other boys to stand up and turn these results around to take the heat off him."