Source: Daily_Mail
Shearer defiant despite Toon flopping again in stalemate with Portsmouth
Alan Shearer couldn't hide his frustration as Newcastle missed chances and drew with Portsmouth[LNB]Alan Shearer refused to write off Newcastle's desperate survival bid despite his strikers misfiring alarmingly in a goalless draw at home to Portsmouth.[LNB]The stand-in boss, still searching for his first win, picked his three big-name strikers but Michael Owen, Obafemi Martins and Mark Viduka all missed clear-cut chances.[LNB]Shearer said: 'We just have to make sure we're still in there fighting to the last game of the season.[LNB]'I don't know whether this will be a good point or a bad point but there will be more twists and turns and four games is a hell of a long time in football.'[LNB]Owen, watched by England assistant Franco Baldini, fired at David James's legs from a one-on-one, Viduka hit another tame shot at the England keeper and Martins blasted over in the final minute of the first half.[LNB]But despite the expensive misses, which leave Newcastle in the bottom three and 3-1 on with the bookmakers to go down, Shearer refuses to believe his side will be relegated.[LNB]The former No 9 tried to remain upbeat after the draw which left Portsmouth seven points clear of Newcastle.[LNB]Shearer's side have leap-frogged Middlesbrough, who with Fulham are the remaining visitors to Tyneside, but they remain three from safety behind Hull City.[LNB]Shearer said: 'No one will be feeling sorry for themselves at this club. I am disappointed but I cannot fault the effort. We created enough to win the match.[LNB]'The chances were there for us to take and the big three all had one each and they have not put them in.[LNB] Michael Owen looks dejected as another chance slips by for Newcastle[LNB]'On any other night they would have gone in and if they had it would have been a different story.[LNB]'We have to continue trying to create chances for Michael and the others. Tonight he had one he would expect to put away but we will keep trying to create them and they will go in.'[LNB]Portsmouth manager Paul Hart was delighted with the point and his side, who hit the post through Richard Hughes, almost sneaked it.[LNB]Hart said: 'We're satisfied with a point but it is tinged with disappointment that we didn't get all three.[LNB]'I won't say we're safe yet, there is more work to do but this sends out a message.'[LNB] Newcastle 0 Portsmouth 0: Owen bungles as Toon are left in drop zoneYour number is up Newcastle: 40 players but can anyone rescue them? Newcastle 0 Portsmouth 0: All the action as it happenedNewcastle 0 Portsmouth 0: Owen bungles his lines as Toon are left mired in drop zoneNEWCASTLE FC
