SHEARER ANGRY AT ROBSON

Sir Bobby Robson defended his decision to rest Shearer however, as he looks ahead to Sunday's Premiership match away at Portsmouth.

Shearer, 33, was left on the bench with Kieron Dyer and Laurent Robert, but unlike the others, Shearer did not play ANY part at all in the game.

After the game, he said: "Yes I was angry and yes I was disappointed, but that's the manager's decision.

"I was only told about it in the afternoon. I have played once in the last 10 days and I don't feel very different from last season."

The last comment referred to Robson's assertion that his captain was a year older than when he played a full Champions League campaign last season.

The Magpies are however, now fourth place in the league and manager Robson wants to keep it that way.

He said: "I don't think I'm wrong at all. They played very well second half. If Shearer had been on the pitch, I don't think Shearer would have stopped them playing so well.

"You have got to give credit to the other side. We will get the benefit of what we did, hopefully, on Sunday.

"But I used the squad that we have got. They are all good players and we should have done better. Our performance in the second half was disappointing, the performance of some of my players was disappointing."

Speaking about the game, Robson added, "It might make them realise that it's not an easy match and that we will have to work very hard to win.

"We had a good first half and I think at half-time they all thought - I didn't - that all they had to do was take it easy and we would win the game 1-0 and we might get two.

"But the goal gave them a terrific lift, a great impetus and from that moment on they were brimming with confidence, full of running, very tenacious in the tackle and they were very keen about winning the ball from us, and they did it.

"It's opened our eyes a bit. The players know now what to expect next Wednesday in Newcastle and we will have to be ready for it."

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