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John Carver has called for Newcastle United to provide him with more protection in the St James’ Park dug-out after what he branded unacceptable “abuse” from his own supporters.

United’s horrendous run of form has seen their cushion from the bottom three shaved to just five points – and they go to Leicester on Saturday in desperate need of a point to stop the rot. Yet even their dire predicament was over-shadowed by angry clashes with supporters.

Claims he swore at a fan who shouted him have been “categorically” denied by Carver, who also denies acting aggressively – although supporters close to the incident have given a contradictory account.

Carver says the “personal” abuse he suffered throughout the second half has made it difficult and called for stewards to act.

The United head coach said: “Let’s put it this way, it has not been easy.

“I knew it wouldn’t be easy. Sometimes it is quite difficult to stand in that technical area and be abused the way I was abused today without any protection from the sidelines.

“That is the reason I moved back. I am not going to stand out there and be abused during the game. The club has to do something about it.

“I said to the two lads who were abusing me: Come and see me afterwards and I will expain 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 affect that. I can’t get on the end of the corner and head the ball clear which would have kept us one up at half time. I can’t do that.

“That is the first time I have had that. Just totally getting abused throughout the whole of the second half and I am not accepting that. I don’t think it is right. No one should put up with that.”

Passions are high at United and Carver is under pressure after a run of games.

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It feels like the situation is getting out of control and Carver, understandably, has found it difficult to take criticism from fellow supporters of a club which means everything to him.

He is adamant he did not become aggressive or allow the situation to boil over like it did at Southampton earlier in the season. He has extended an invite to fans to visit him at the training ground.

He added “We have stewards there and some of them just watch the game.

“I’d like to see those two guys again and explain to them why I have had to do what I have done.

“I think if they sat with me and understood where I was coming from they would understand the whole situation.

“Yet when they are blaring at you for 45 minutes it is very difficult.

“One of the lads said to me: “Are you threatening me?” I said no, come and see me afterwards and I will explain to you.

“He obviously thought I was (threatening). There was no way in the world I was doing that. I did that once before (Southampton) and I said then I’d not get involved in something like that again and I ain’t.

“I would like to explain to those two lads. Love them to come to the training ground, have a cup of tea, sit in a room and talk about it.

“I would be interested to see what they have to say, know what their thoughts are and then they might understand what I am going through and they might understand, it is as simple as that.”

Asked whether it was to be expected after seven defeats he said: “No I don’t expect that.

“Alan Pardew got it and that is why in the end he just sat in the dug-out and I was in the technical area.”