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John Carver calls on Newcastle fans to get behind their team

John Carver
Image: John Carver: Wants fans behind his Newcastle side on Sunday

Newcastle head coach John Carver has called on all the club's fans to get behind the team and create an "electric" atmosphere against West Ham on Sunday.

A win against West Ham in the final game of the season would ensure Newcastle remain in the Premier League and condemn Hull City to relegation.

Newcastle are on an appalling run of one draw and nine defeats in their last 10 games and that has led to a backlash from fans, some of whom will attempt to occupy St James' Park as a protest after the final whistle 

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But Carver is calling on fans to unite behind the team for 90 minutes and do their part to help the team avoid any slip-ups.

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.

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

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.
John Carver

But 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 any 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."

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