Newcastle interim boss John Carver called for the club’s board to end the uncertainty over the vacant manager’s position in the wake of yet another defeat on Saturday in the post-Pardew era.

It’s three from four now with just a draw to Burnley to show for their efforts and there was an air of inevitability about this result in front of an unusually subdued St James’ Park crowd.

After the match Carver was asked whether he felt there should be an update on the recruitment process.

“I think everyone does,” he replied. “I think I do, I think all the staff do, I think all the players do, I think the crowd certainly does.”

That crowd had watched as Southampton’s new Dutch winger Eljero Elia, who joined on loan from Werder Bremen at the start of the transfer window, grabbed a goal early in each half with help from some lacklustre Newcastle defending.

The hosts had levelled after 29 minutes when Florin Gardos’s attempted clearance ricocheted off Yoan Gouffran, the Frenchman’s first goal since Boxing Day 2013, but it wasn’t enough.

Deep into second half injury time, Saints captain Jose Fonte appeared to handle in the area. Was it hand-to-ball or ball-to-hand? Referee Robert Madley felt the latter and waved away Newcastle’s penalty appeals and their hopes of a point.

It was clear that a despondent Carver thought the decision had all but ended his chance of retaining the job full-time.

“A decision like that can make a

big difference to people’s livelihoods and people’s futures. You’ve got to win football matches.”

Southampton boss Ronald Koeman’s emotions were the polar opposite having seen his side leapfrog Manchester United back into third. “It’s been a long week, a difficult week with three away games but if you win it gives people confidence.”

Was this the position he had expected to be in at the start of the season? “I might have laughed about the possibility before,” he said.

“But not now — we have a good team, a good spirit and good organisation so I’m not surprised. We’ve got what we deserved.”