Already-relegated Queens Park Rangers came from behind to win 2-1 at home yesterday, leaving Newcastle’s hopes of Premier League survival in the balance.
They now require three points against West Ham on the final day to ensure their Premier League safety, but if they fail to win, and Hull City pick up all three points at home to Manchester United, the Magpies will be relegated to the Championship.
In his post-match press conference, John Carver talked up the importance of the game and has pleaded for the Geordie faithful to set their differences aside for one last game to get behind the team at St James’ Park next weekend.
He said: “I’m really disappointed about it because in the first half I thought we were in control. We were not under any threat and then for that 10 minutes after half-time we shot ourselves in the foot again. We could have avoided that. It was in our hands and we could have put it to bed, we haven’t but now it [West Ham (h)] is definitely the biggest game and the biggest we’ve had for a long, long time.
“What I will say is, I want the same atmosphere as we had against West Brom a fortnight ago because it could be the fans who actually get us across the line and keep our Premier League status.”
Carver was then asked whether the fans turning up to support Newcastle would make a difference. He replied: “It made a difference to the team against West Brom. There will be a lot of people out there saying: ‘Why should we?’
“But I think that they want us to stay in the Premier League and if it gets us that extra 5% or 10% that keeps us in the Premier League, then we need it. Then once we get the game out of the way then we will have the post-mortem and we can deal with it.”
He went on to explain his side throwing away a first half lead, after Emmanuel Riviere put them ahead, to suffer a 2-1 defeat at Loftus Road: “I thought for a spell when the first goal went in one or two dropped their heads. Then he [Leeroy Fer] hit a raker. I was thinking about changes just before they scored.”
“I thought the way they changed their system, the two wide guys came in narrower, and they kept on playing it to the front men. Our two wide guys Cabella and Perez were too high. We dealt with that in the first half but in the second half QPR kept on picking up second balls and it was difficult in the midfield to win the ball. So we were talking about changing it.
“We had a plan to bring Cisse on at half-time but because we were winning there was no need to do that. We came again, made changes and had good chances from Dummett and Cisse. It could have been a Clint Hill handball but we don’t get them.”
