Source: Eurosport
Shearer demands Magpies answers
Alan Shearer wants answers from Newcastle following the 1-0 loss at Spurs and says they must now win their three home games to avoid the drop.Darren Bent struck the only goal of Sunday's Premier League game at White Hart Lane to leave Shearer's men four points adrift of safety with five matches left in the campaign.The Magpies battled in search of a point and were denied a penalty when Obafemi Martins went over in the area and a goal when the Nigeria striker was penalised for handball. Shearer was angry with his players for leaving it too late."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," Shearer said."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."Newcastle face Portsmouth, Middlesbrough and Fulham at St James' Park, and Shearer agreed they have to win all three of them.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."Their only shot of the first half came in the 24th minute, seconds before Spurs raced to the other end of the pitch, with Bent finishing at the second attempt after Steve Harper saved his initial effort.Steven Taylor then limped off at half-time with an ankle problem, and their shape changed again when Shearer introduced Martins and Mark Viduka after the break."I've asked them for a reaction at half-time and they gave me it," he added."Effort wise I've got no complaints. You've seen the urgency, you've seen spark and belief that they can pass it around. I want to see that for 90 minutes. Then we'll have the chance of taking three points instead of one or none."I still believe we have got enough."Martins provided an attacking spark and went close with two gilt-edged chances, while also having his handball effort chalked off and his penalty shout turned down by referee Mark Halsey following a challenge by Jonathan Woodgate."I felt at the time it was a penalty," Shearer said. "That's three decisions we haven't got in three games."Spurs are waiting to find out the results of a scan after Michael Dawson injured his ankle in the first half."I'm not sure if it's ligaments or a fracture but it looks quite nasty," manager Harry Redknapp said.The Spurs boss feels Newcastle can still stay up."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."As for his own team, he would relish another chance in Europe."I'd like to do it now," he said."I would be a good achievement, fantastic. It's not as important as staying up, that's all they were talking about."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]
