NEWCASTLE United caretaker manager John Carver admits he was embarrassed to be part of the club’s coaching staff after September’s 4-0 defeat to Southampton.

The Magpies were demolished for the second season running on the south coast, but have the opportunity to put both performances right in this evening’s late kick-off at St James’ Park.

Carver was alongside Alan Pardew on the bench that day as a strong away following protested against the manager and owner Mike Ashley, who was in the stands at St Mary’s.

The result came in the middle of a seven-match winless run at the beginning of the season and as he prepares to lead Newcastle out against Ronald Koeman’s side, Carver recalled fearing the worst for the rest of the campaign.

“It was absolutely the worst day of my time at the club,” the caretaker boss said. “One of the darkest days of my life to be honest. I was embarrassed to be part of Newcastle United coaching staff.

“Yes we played against a good team but we created nothing and they could have won it by six or seven and that's not right. I'll be telling the guys at the team meeting that we've got a point to prove.

“I've got to be honest I feared the worst for the season that night. It stayed with me for a long time. I do care and I'd realised I made a mistake.

“I realised how bad we'd been during the game. The fans were right to be unhappy with the way we'd played. I made that situation even worse but I have to say going into the Hull game straight after, I did feel uncomfortable when we were doing the warm up.

“I wasn't quite sure of the reaction I'd get, but I have to say it was very good. That surprised me a bit to be honest.”

Carver was involved in an altercation with a small group of supporters as he warmed-up the team before kick-off at St Mary’s. He was forced to issue an apology and believes the incident did affect his relationship with the supporters.

He said: “I didn't have the problem with the fans protesting, but when Tim Krul said to me he was a bit disappointed with the banners being raised before kick-off, that was the only thing that upset me.

“I've said many times that I'd be the first to protest, I said it after the cup game at Leicester. It was the fact it was before the game had even started, that's what disappointed me.

“I'm not a shrinking violet, am I? We had words with each other, but it's all history now. I'd even forgotten about it. I apologised afterwards, absolutely, and rightly so but there wasn't one that came the other way. I can't go into detail what was said.

“I think it did affect my relationship with them initially. People who know me know that I'm never going to walk away from a situation like that.

“I was trying to do the best for the team and all I was saying was telling them not to put the banners up there and then. Then he came back at me a couple of times and unfortunately I reacted the wrong way.”

Carver is yet to win a game since taking temporary charge of the Magpies, who lost to Chelsea despite a good first half performance last week.

Remy Cabella produced one of his best displays since arriving from Montpellier in the first 45 minutes, but Carver wants to see the creative midfielder perform on a consistent basis.

He was used sparingly by former boss Alan Pardew, despite a year-long chase to sign the France international, and Carver has hinted his work rate has been an issue.

“We know he’s got talent, but he’s got to start working hard for the team. He did that at Chelsea and he’s done it again in training.

“He sees this as an opportunity because he came over here as a little bit of a star in France and he’s come to Newcastle and not had many opportunities. He got an opportunity last week against one of the best sides in the Premier League and did very well, but he’s got to maintain that and he’s got to do it now.”

Newcastle face former keeper Fraser Forster this evening, a player Carver was responsible for bringing to the club.

The Hexham-born stopper was highly-rated on Tyneside, but he was allowed to move on with his opportunities limited by Tim Krul’s consistent form.

“I am going to tell you a story. You won't know this story, but this is true,” Carver said.

“When I was moved down to become the Academy director, our youth team was playing in the Youth Cup and I only had one goalkeeper, so I said to my scout, 'Go and find me a goalkeeper'.

“He came back with this name Fraser Forster from the Royal Grammar School, and I thought, 'Royal Grammar School? That's a rugby school'.

“He said, 'But he's 6'7”, he's a big lad, and I said, 'Let's go and get him', so we got him, we signed him. We sat down with his mum and dad and they were more bothered about his education than goalkeeping.

“We decided to sign him and he is coming to St James' on Saturday. I will be so proud to see him here, and his family. But hopefully he will be on the wrong end of a good result for us.