London Marathon Results 2014: BBC commentator Brendan Foster accused of being 'unnecessarily negative' about Mo Farah

BBC commentator trending on Twitter as angry fans expressed their frustration over his 'disgraceful comments'

Mo Farah takes part in the 2014 London Marathon

BBC athletics commentator Brendan Foster was accused of being "unnecessarily negative" about Mo Farah's performance at the London Marathon 2014.

Angry fans used Twitter to vent their frustration at the BBC's commentator for his "joyless response" to Farah's efforts, who completed his marathon debut in a time of 2hr 8min 21sec, four minutes behind Kenya's Wilson Kipsang, who won the event with a course-record time of 2hr 4min 29sec.

Farah himself was "disappointed" with his performance and vowed to improve his timing, but Mr Foster's comments seem to have a struck a nerve.

The former long-distance runner suggested Farah wasn't strong enough to complete with "these guys" and should concentrate on shorter distances.

He added: "Why would Mo Farah want to take on guys like Wilson Kipsang in the marathon in the future? These guys are just so strong.

"I hope Mo stays on the track, runs the shorter distances and defends his title in Rio. I just think this is too much of an unknown territory for Mo."

An angry fan wrote: "Brendan Foster should be replaced. So negative about Mo Farah. I don't pay my licence fee for judgemental views!"

Another viewer tweeted: "Could the Brendan Foster be any more negative about Mo Farah's marathon debut? Life's not over when you run 2:08."

While others accused him of being "too negative", "disgraceful" and "disrespectful towards a British hero like Mo".

In support of Farah, British marathon record holder Steve Jones, whose time Farah narrowly missed out on, said: "As a debut performance it was extremely good. He is a class act and the greatest distance runner this country has ever had.

"It is an honour to still have my record seeing as Mo stated that was his target. But I think he coped pretty well considering it was his first marathon.”

Farah, Britain's double gold medal winner in the 5,000m and the 10,000m events at the London 2012 Olympics, was competing in the longer distance for the first time and could not keep up with the pace of the likes of Kipsang, who won the event with a new course record of 2hr 4min 29sec, in the leading field.

The 32-year-old Kenyan Kipang's winning time was 11 seconds inside the previous fastest run in the British capital by Emmanuel Mutai in 2011. Compatriot Stanley Biwott was second, his best finish in London.

Two-time world champion Edna Kiplagat won the women's race. After twice finishing second in the British capital road race, the 34-year-old Kenyan went one better by completing in 2hr 20min 21sec - three seconds ahead of compatriot and namesake, Florence Kiplagat.