Newcastle vs West Ham preview - Carver expects 'electric' encounter

Posted Saturday, May 23, 2015 by PA

Newcastle head coach John Carver is expecting an "electric" atmosphere as he attempts to drag the club back from the brink of disaster.

West Ham will arrive at St James' Park on Sunday to face a Magpies team knowing that anything short of a victory - something they have not managed since February - could prove fatal to their hopes of remaining in the Barclays Premier League.

Newcastle's dreadful run of one draw and nine defeats in their last 10 games has prompted a concerted backlash from fans, some of whom have boycotted home games in protest at the way the club is being run by owner Mike Ashley.

However, while the 'Ashley Out' group is calling on supporters to occupy St James' Park after the final whistle whatever happens on the pitch, the Toon Army are being urged to get behind the team for its most crucial 90 minutes in years.

Carver said: "I'm expecting this to be electric. Our fans don't want us to be in the Championship next season. I know for a fact for 90 minutes, it will be electric. I guarantee they'll be behind the team."

Asked about his reaction to the planned protest, he replied: "That's fine, they're entitled to do what they want to do. But for 90 minutes - like they did against West Brom - I'd ask them to get behind the team."

Newcastle's situation bears a striking resemblance to the one in which they found themselves six years ago when Alan Shearer had been appointed in a bid to pull off a rescue mission.

Shearer's Magpies went to Aston Villa on the last day of the campaign in a parlous position, and a 1-0 defeat sent them down.

But while there are parallels, Carver is hoping a crucial difference this time around will work in his favour with his side enjoying a two-point advantage over 18th-placed Hull, who have to beat Manchester United at the KC Stadium if they are to stand a chance of survival.

He said: "Six years ago, it wasn't in our hands. If we win on Sunday, we're not bothered about anybody else. Hull would love to be in our shoes.

"We're in this situation, we've got to deal with it. I feel like we've got to win. If we do that, we take care of our own business."

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce insists he would take no satisfaction from condemning his former club to relegation.

Allardyce's reign at St James' Park ended in disappointment in 2008 when he parted company with the club after just eight months at the helm, a decision that he described as a "shock".

Allardyce, however, is motivated by another goal.

"It's not about what happens to Newcastle for me. Some have suggested that I'm all up for us winning to send them down, but it's far too far down the road for any of that stuff," Allardyce said.

"It's been a long time since we parted company and looking back to the past is never what I've been about because you can't affect what happens in the past. You learn from it and move on to the future.

"Since Newcastle I've had a fantastic time at Blackburn and then here, at West Ham. It's nearly seven years since I left Newcastle.

"I'm up for for winning on Sunday for West Ham because that's where I work and we want to finish with the 50 points we targeted at the start of the season. Hopefully we can achieve that goal."

West Ham have dropped out of the Champions League places since Christmas and now occupy 11th.

Allardyce, who knows Sunday could be his final match as Hammers boss with his contract set to expire this summer, admits it has been a frustrating end to the season.

"We're all disappointed that we haven't achieved more than we have done," said Allardyce.

"We could have had a great season and matched, with a bit more luck, the best season West Ham have had.

"That was fifth, which would be very difficult in the current climate, but we did have the chance after Christmas. We haven't achieved the results our performances deserve."