By Matt Jones
January 3 2006

Alan Shearer and Nolberto Solano comment on Newcastle United's 2-2 draw with Boro. Shearer feels that United were not good enough to win the match - and that the draw was a fair result while Nobby Solano's main points were dispapointing defensive errors. It was Solano who put the Magpies' ahead at half-time with a stunning free-kick into the top corner after 27 minutes, but Middlesbrough's Yakubu was able to take advantage of a lapse in concentration shortly after the break to put things level.

Boro's J.F. Hasselbaink must have thought he had secured three points for the away team with an 87th minute goal, but Man of the Match Lee Clark replied just 3 minutes later with his first goal in 9 years to salvage a point for the Toon.

Speaking to the official website, Shearer said: "I don't think we deserved to get beat, and a draw was the fair result.

"We had to dig and work for the point, probably didn't deserve to win it, but I don't think they did either.

"When you score a last gasp goal like that you are probably more relieved than anything. The feeling afterwards was a mix of relief and disappointment.

"I don't think it was a great game to watch, but defensively we've been sloppy again and paid for it.

"The first half was OK, we weren't in that much trouble, whatever they created I think we created for them.

"We did say at half time that the first goal in the second half would be important.

"Had we scored it, it would have given us a cushion at 2-0 and who knows what would have happened after that? As it turned out, they got the goal and got back into it.

"It was a frustrating afternoon, we didn't create a great deal.

"Albert (Luque) had a chance early on and didn't put it away, but once Nobby scored I felt we should have kicked on because Middlesbrough were there for the taking.

"We have to keep plugging away. We have to keep on going and get through it, but it is a nightmare at the moment with the amount of players we have missing. It's incredible.

"What can we do? We have to take it on the chin.

"We lose Amady Faye to the African Nations Cup next week, Shola (Ameobi) was injured against Middlesbrough, so I don't know what sort of team the manager will be able to put out against Mansfield."

Goalscorer Nobby Solano added: "It's dispapointing how we conceded the goals. We need to concentrate more, especially defensively.

"We gave chances away. It was a winnable game but we only got a draw.

"We scored early and should then try to control the game. The manager said at half-time that the next goal would be important. We needed to concentrate but we didn't and that cost us the win.

"I haven't taken a free-kick for a while and was happy to score, but I cannot be happy after we didn't win.

"We are trying to finish in the top six but it is going to be difficult if we cannot get three points at home."