Source: Eurosport
Shearer Keeps Home Fires Burning
Newcastle boss Alan Shearer has told his players they need to win their remaining three home games to save their season and stay in the Barclays Premier League.[LNB]After losing to Tottenham on Sunday, with Darren Bent scoring the only goal of the game at White Hart Lane, Shearer's men are four points from safety with five matches left.[LNB]Three of those are at St James' Park, against Portsmouth, Middlesbrough and Fulham - and Shearer believes maximum points from those clashes will ensure survival.[LNB]He said: "We'll be expected to win those and we have to win those starting with next Monday against Portsmouth. My attention is now on that must-win game."[LNB]Shearer was angry with his players for leaving it too late against Spurs before raising their game.[LNB]"I've just said to them, very pleased with the second half but give me an explanation why there's no urgency like that from minute one," he said.[LNB]"We have our own ideas, our own theory as to why but we have to start games in the first minute like we finish them in the last 30 minutes."[LNB]Anoth concern for Shearer is Steven Taylor, who was taken off at half-time with an ankle injury.[LNB]That changed Newcastle's shape, as did Shearer's substitutions when he brought on Obafemi Martins and Mark Viduka.[LNB]Martins provided an attacking spark and went close with two gilt-edged chances, while also having an effort chalked off for handball and a penalty shout turned down by referee Mark Halsey following a challenge by Jonathan Woodgate.[LNB]"I felt at the time it was a penalty," Shearer said. "That's three decisions we haven't got in three games."[LNB]Spurs are waiting to find out the results of a scan after Michael Dawson injured his ankle in the first half.[LNB]"I'm not sure if it's ligaments or a fracture but it looks quite nasty," Redknapp said.[LNB]Redknapp feels Newcastle can still stay up.[LNB]"Now they've got to lift the roof off St James' Park in the next three," he said. "They've still got a good chance to be honest."[LNB]As for his own team, he would relish another chance in Europe now they are within sight of a seventh-placed finish.[LNB]"I'd like to do it now," he said.[LNB]"It would be a good achievement, fantastic. It's not as important as staying up, that's all they were talking about.[LNB]"Mr Levy (chairman Daniel Levy) hadn't slept for weeks because he thought we were going to get relegated. I bet he's sleeping now."[LNB]
