By Matthew Jones
May 10 2004

Veteran Magpies’ striker Alan Shearer has accepted the blame for Sunday’s extremely disappointing game against relegated Wolves at St James’ Park in which two points were dropped.

Shearer, a former England captain, missed a second half penalty as his side drew 1-1 with the Black Country side leaving them [Newcastle] five points behind Liverpool in the race for fourth – although Robson’s men have a game in hand away at Southampton.

Alan Shearer should have netted from the spot, and he knows it, but it is basically down to the fact that Newcastle are so poor away from home that a Champions League spot hasn’t already been secured.

Shearer said:

"You expect to score a penalty and I accept responsibility that we haven't taken three points today.

"Paul Jones was magnificent, including the penalty save from myself, but without playing well, we still created enough chances for us to win the game.

"We now know that with two games remaining we have to win both of them. Where there's a chance to qualify for the Champions League we will keep fighting.

"But if we don't qualify, it won't be because we didn't beat Wolves today it will be because of our poor away form all season."

Shearer however, has vowed that his side will bounce back.

He added:

"We knew before the Wolves game that we could not lose any of the three matches we had left. We blew a big chance to take three points against Wolves. But we can't feel sorry for ourselves and we won't and we will give it a damn big try on Wednesday.

"It doesn't help that the two games are at grounds where we have not done too well recently. We have not won at Anfield since I've been here and we've certainly not won at Southampton since I've been here.

"If you were a betting man, with two games to go, you would not put any money on us. But, as I said, where there is a chance, we will not give up.

"It will be difficult for us. We have it all to do, without doubt."