FREDDY Shepherd has been forced to issue a grovelling public apology to the 5,000 Newcastle fans who called for their manager's head during the second half of Wednesday's humiliating Carling Cup defeat at Wigan.

With the Magpies chairman admitting that his side's half-hearted display was utterly unacceptable, tomorrow's home game with Aston Villa is likely to determine Graeme Souness' future at the club.

Win, and Souness is almost certain to remain in place throughout the busy Christmas period. Lose, and Newcastle could well be looking for their third manager in the space of 14 months.

Ever conscious of the prevailing mood on Tyneside, Shepherd is understood to have been taken aback by the level of vitriol that was hurled in his manager's direction on Wednesday night.

After listening to a succession of "Souness out" chants in the stadium, he found his route out of the JJB Stadium blocked by a group of fans voicing their anger at the club's gradual slide under the Scot.

That anger will intensify if things do not go to plan tomorrow and, by distancing himself from Wednesday's display, the Magpies chairman has begun to pave the way for a possible dismissal.

"I felt sorry for our supporters," said Shepherd, who sacked Sir Bobby Robson after Newcastle lost to Aston Villa at the start of last season. "I felt especially sorry for those who travelled 165 miles on a freezing and foggy night to watch a performance like that, and I would like to say sorry to them.

"But we are all in this together. From me as chairman, to the management and the players, we have all got to stick together and get a win on Saturday, which would give everyone a huge lift."

Removing Souness yesterday was never an option but, with a seven-day gap between tomorrow's game and the following weekend's visit of Arsenal, the next 48 hours are likely to prove critical.

Ironically, the former Liverpool and Rangers boss described last season's home game with Aston Villa as his "blackest moment" in the game after Lee Bowyer and Kieron Dyer traded blows on the pitch. If things go wrong tomorrow, things could be about to get even blacker.

Sacking Souness would placate a set of supporters who have never taken him to their hearts following his decision to quit Blackburn for St James' Park.

Ultimately, though, Shepherd's decision is likely to be a far more pragmatic one. Dismissing Souness would be an expensive move, and appointing his successor would be a far from simple task.

The Magpies recently agreed a sizeable settlement with Robson and would be loath to spend more money on paying off yet another managerial casualty.

Finding a replacement would also prove costly and, as Portsmouth's struggles have proved, English football is hardly awash with talented and available managers.

Martin O'Neill is understood to be interested in taking over at Newcastle, but the former Celtic boss will be going nowhere until the end of the season at the earliest.

George Burley is available, while both Steve Bruce and Sam Allardyce were considered before Souness was appointed last autumn, but none of the three represent the kind of world-class name that would appease the supporters.

Crucially, Souness still retains the support of his senior players despite his side's stuttering start to the season. Alan Shearer remains committed to helping his manager turn things around, while Shay Given has spoken of the need to win three priceless points tomorrow.

The Republic of Ireland international was the only Newcastle player to perform to his potential at the JJB Stadium and, without him, the one-goal defeat could well have been a landslide.

Given has already seen three managers come and go during his time on Tyneside and will be doing everything in his power to prevent Souness becoming a fourth.

"Villa was always going to be a huge game anyway," said the Magpies shot-stopper. "But now it's a massive one.

"It's all about results and we've got to get a result on Saturday. There's absolutely no question about that.

"We weren't at the races on Wednesday and we didn't deserve to be in the next round.

"We didn't play well at all. We weren't strong enough, we weren't winning tackles and we weren't first to the ball.

"We just weren't good enough all over the pitch and we know we've got to improve."

Shearer echoed the goalkeeper's sentiments, and admitted tomorrow's game would sort the men from the boys in the Newcastle dressing room.

"We'll find out who our men are," said the United skipper. "I can't try and defend what went on at Wigan. It was an awful performance and an awful result.

"We've got to go out and give a performance now. Whoever plays tomorrow has to stand up and be counted."

* Aston Villa midfielder Gareth Barry has admitted to being "flattered" by speculation linking him with a possible move to Newcastle.

But the former England Under-21 captain has insisted he is in no rush to sever his ties with Villa ahead of tomorrow's clash with Graeme Souness' side.

"In the summer I was linked with Newcastle," said Barry. "It is flattering because Newcastle are a big club and they've signed big, big names.

"To be linked with them is always flattering but, until you are told anything else, that's all it is.

"There have been stories about the same sort of thing recently but, until the manager or chairman says something to me, I'm not thinking about it at all."

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