John Carver: Newcastle United must protect me from abusive Toon fans

Newcastle United 2 Swansea City 3

John Carver has called for Newcastle United to offer him more protection from the sort of abuse he faced from supporters during Saturday’s 3-2 home defeat by Swansea City.

Carver was involved in a heated row with a fan next to the home dugout during the defeat, which was Newcastle’s seventh in succession, their worst run since 1977. Since Carver became temporary head coach they have won just two of their 16 games.

The supporter he argued with claimed on Twitter that he had been sworn at and offered a fight by the Newcastle coach, an allegation Carver and the club deny.

However, Carver admitted he was forced back into his dugout by the level of criticism he was facing and has called on the club stewards to offer him more protection.

“Sometimes it is quite difficult to actually stand in that technical area and get abused the way I was abused without any protection from the sidelines,” he said. “That is the reason I moved back. I am not going to stand out there and be abused during the game. The football club has got to do something about it.

Cork scores for Swansea against Newcastle (Getty Images)

“I said to the two lads who were abusing me: ‘Come and see me afterwards and I will explain to you what I am trying to do.’ They expect me to put the ball in the net, stop the headers going in, stop the opposition from scoring. I can’t do that.

“That is the first time I have had that – just totally getting abused throughout the second half. No one should put up with that. We have got stewards there, and some of them just watch the game.”

Carver inherited from Alan Pardew a side that at present does not have a recognised centre-forward and which went through a similar dismal run at this stage last season.

“I’d like to see those two guys again and explain to them why I have had to do what I have done,” he added. “I think if they sat with me and understood where I was coming from they would understand the whole situation, but when they are blaring at you for 45 minutes it is very difficult.”

Newcastle led through Ayoze Perez – the first time since February they have been ahead in a game – but woeful defending saw them concede to Nelson Oliveira, Gylfi Sigurdsson and Jack Cork. Siem de Jong scored a late consolation but fear of relegation is now sweeping Tyneside.

“I am not even thinking about that,” Carver added.