Newcastle head coach John Carver feels his side have to win their final game of the season to avoid dropping down into the Championship.

The Magpies appeared on course to secure safety with a game to spare on Saturday as they took a 1-0 lead at QPR, before two quick-fire second half goals saw the home side take the lead and hang on for the win.

Newcastle are two points clear of Hull ahead of the final round of fixtures, with Carver’s side hosting West Ham and the Tigers up against Manchester United at the KC Stadium.

Sunderland could yet drop into the bottom three but they have two games remaining, at Arsenal and Chelsea, and need just one point to ensure survival.

Hull do have a superior goal difference so a draw with the Hammers may not be enough to keep Newcastle in the top fight, so Carver has urged his side to target all three points in the last game of the season.

“It was a mad 10 minutes in the second half and that was hugely disappointing,” he said after the defeat at QPR. “I thought in first half we were in control. They weren’t a threat, we were organised.

“We knew the result we tried to get today and had to get. We had to go for the win.

“Having lost, this is the best scenario with Hull losing. There’s one game left and it’s a do or die situation.

“We have to manage the pressure this week, focus and keep out of media spotlight. We’ve talked about some games in the last three, four weeks being the biggest and next week against West Ham is one of them.”