Sunday Times

Midas touch eludes messiah

Newcastle United 0 Chelsea 2

Jonathan Northcroft at St James’ Park

THE Messiah moment came and went at around half past four. With a
triangular passing move of sudden quality - far better than anything
they managed during the rest of the afternoon - Newcastle played
Michael Owen into a scoring position and his shot cannoned off Alex,
struck John Mikel Obi, and dropped beyond Petr Cech.

The ball was a foot over the line when Ashley Cole volleyed it away. A
goal. Resurrection’s start. There were 52,112 disciples and their
Saviour looked to Rob Styles’ assistant for confirmation, as did the
referee himself, but his flag hung idle, limp. If Alan Shearer is to
take the long walk across water that would end with Newcastle
achieving safety, he can do without fate’s hand thrusting from beneath
the surface and pulling him under.

As a player little stood between Shearer and miracles. His talent was
rare, his body strong, his willpower supreme. But managers are at the
mercy of so many other variables, among which refereeing decisions are
included. The greatest ones are footballers, your own and the
opposition’s, and both had made a winning start to dugout life
unlikely long before the linesman’s mistake. Chelsea’s were too good,
Newcastle’s not good enough. It was 2-0 to the visitors when Owen
“scored” and a comeback would have still been surprising at 2-1.

Mon Mome had just won the Grand National and lightning was unlikely to
strike sport twice in a day, as far as fairy-tales were concerned.

St James’ Park seemed to know it. Hype said it would be a cauldron of
seething Geordie noise but reality dictated that Newcastle’s plight,
and abysmal run, which now stands at one win in 12 league games,
spawned a nervous pessimism around the stadium. Keegan has been and
gone, and been and gone again. Sir Bobby Robson had his time.

Once an initial burst of hymns for Shearer was over, they watched in
silence as these 90 minutes offered fresh perspective on their club’s
problems. The stadium grew even more sullen when news of Stoke winning
at West Brom came through. Newcastle are now six points adrift of the
Potteries side, who they play next week, and their best hope of
survival might lie in Sunderland suffering a further collapse.

“It was a hard task when I took over and now it’s harder. The linesman
made a mistake but it’s not his fault that we lost today,” Shearer
said. “We had a chat in the dressing room and we know what needs to be
done but knowing and doing are different things.” He had strode from
the tunnel, cool suit, hands in pockets, chewing gum, with the swagger
of an older brother back to sort out a family mess, but certain
problems are insoluble. The ability level of Newcastle’s squad is
probably lower than at any time since Keegan took them into the
Premier League in 1993 and they look like relegation fighters.
Shearer’s match analysis was accurate: “Effort-wise there were no
complaints but we could step up our quality.”

Owen is this club’s remaining marquee name but he was starved of
supply, Newcastle unable to achieve sustained possession in forward
areas and never likely to receive gifts from a top defence in top
form. The support for Owen from Obafemi Martins, Jonas Gutierrez,
Peter Lovenkrands and Damien Duff - who replaced Lovenkrands when the
Dane was taken to hospital with breathing difficulties - was scatty.
Shearer went for a back-to-basics 4-4-2 framework, but football is
more complicated than when he played and Chelsea’s formation was
multi-tiered and gave them an extra man in central midfield. From
there they controlled the game.

For a while Newcastle staved off the worst via sweat. Shearer had
invigorated his players sufficiently for them to contest every ball
full-bloodedly and hunt in packs when there was an opponent to be
pressed. Florent Malouda forced a reflex save from Steve Harper at the
end of a flashing Chelsea counter-attack, but the response was
immediate. Gutierrez played Jose Enrique down the line, the Spaniard
drilled a low cross to the near post and Martins, improvising as the
ball bounced in front of him, directed it close using his chest.

Frank Lampard was booked for diving, but hope was draining rapidly and
dread was flooding in. Nicolas Anelka went through and seemed certain
to score but Harper denied him and the goalkeeper defied Malouda when
the Frenchman turned and shot from close range. Then, on 55 minutes,
Chelsea scored, confirming that nothing had changed in Newcastle’s
error-strewn defence. Duff put Fabricio Coloccini under pressure with
a pass, Anelka caught the Argentine in possession, the ball ran free
and both Lampard and Malouda got to it ahead of Coloccini and Anelka
was through again. Harper charged out and partially blocked Anelka’s
shot but the ball spun and hit the junction between post and bar and
Lampard, with a diving header, converted the rebound.

One-nil became 2-0 so quickly and so easily. Cech sent a long kick
down the field, Anelka beat Habib Beye to win a flick on, and Lampard
gathered before sending Malouda beyond Ryan Taylor with a weighted
pass. Malouda finished well, shooting under Harper as the goalkeeper
dived. Shearer spent the remainder of the action chuntering to Iain
Dowie, his assistant, about the officiating and Newcastle’s play. It
could have been worse. Salomon Kalou had a one-on-one with Harper in
stoppage time but Harper made an outstanding block with his legs and
there was a further chance for a third for Chelsea, which Lampard
missed.

Not one of Newcastle’s remaining fixtures looks easy but Shearer is
determined to stay positive. “We don’t have to play Chelsea every
week,” he pointed out. But when he went back down the tunnel at
full-time the swagger had gone. There was a pinch of the nose, shake
of the head, and quick march to the dressing room.

NEWCASTLE: Harper 8, Ryan Taylor 5, Beye 6, Coloccini 5, Jose Enrique
6, Gutierrez, Nolan 5 (Guthrie 69min), Butt 6, Lovenkrands 4 (Duff 4,
44min), Owen 5, Martins 4 (Carroll 81min)

CHELSEA: Cech 7, Ivanovic 6, Alex 7, Terry 7, Ashley Cole 7, Essien 6
(Ballack 6, 57min), Mikel 7, Lampard 8, Malouda, Anelka 7 (Di Santo
67min), Kalou 6

Yellow cards: Chelsea: Lampard, Malouda, Mikel

Star man: Frank Lampard (Chelsea)

Referee: R Styles Attendance:52,112


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Telegraph:


Alan Shearer given a reality check as below-par Chelsea sink Newcastle

There are some messes beyond even a messiah.

Those among the throng gathered for Alan Shearer’s rapture who
believed their prayers had been answered can now be sure the real test
of faith is yet to come.

By Rory Smith at St James’ Park

The second coming briefly, brightly burned away the gloom which had
shrouded St James’ Park ever since Kevin Keegan’s road to Damascus
moment last year. Paeans to Shearer’s passion and iron will greeted
the prodigal’s return. Limp defeat to a
sub-par Chelsea proved that belief alone will not be enough.

In Nicky Butt’s endless, fierce tackling, in Obafemi Martins’ energy
and power, there was evidence enough that Shearer has conveyed to his
players the urgency of Newcastle’s plight, the dire straits that
convinced the head to listen to the call of the heart.

Miracles elude Shearer But by the time goals from Frank Lampard and
Florent Malouda had condemned Shearer to a defeat in his first outing
and cut Newcastle three points adrift in the relegation zone, it was
clear that the club’s directionless apathy was only part of the
problem. Whatever the names on the payroll suggest, Newcastle are not
too good to go down, not too good at all.

Kevin Nolan looks a shadow of the player he was. It is hard to believe
Damien Duff, an ineffective substitute, was once one of Chelsea’s best
players. Michael Owen, admittedly returning from injury, again made
Fabio Capello’s judgment look sound. The defence is bordering on the
shambolic.

For a crowd supposed to be in the throes of joy, the fans were
subdued. When Keegan returned, the atmosphere was celebratory. Aside
from the first 10 minutes, when every attacking throw-in was greeted
with the fervour of a winning goal in a Cup final, wearied cynicism
set in.

Shearer’s charges gave them precious little to cheer, Martins scuffing
their one clear-cut chance of the opening period wide.

Chelsea should have been ahead by that stage anyway, Salomon Kalou
weakly heading straight at Steve Harper after Ashley Cole found him 12
yards out and free of the attentions – periodic at best throughout the
afternoon – of what passes for Newcastle’s defence.

The visitors barely shifted out of second gear and for much of the
game gave the impression of a side simply determined not to risk
injury ahead of their annual Champions League clash at Anfield. For a
side who were not conspicuously trying, though, their supremacy over
hosts with Shearer’s inspiration supposedly coursing through their
veins was embarrassing.

Nicolas Anelka wasted the best chance of the first half, racing on to
Lampard’s through ball, holding off Habib Beye but finding only the
side netting.

Guus Hiddink’s side are hardly football’s great romantics. He admitted
their plan was to drain the spirit from the crowd and then from the
team. Once jubilation had been replaced by dread, they went about
their business of spoiling the occasion with ruthless efficiency.

Malouda shot straight at Harper and Anelka should have done better
than a weak header after more good work from his French international
team-mate before the two combined to allow Lampard to put the hosts
out of their misery. Malouda closed down Fabricio Coloccini, the ball
ran to Anelka, his chip came back off the bar and the England man was
on hand to roll the ball home.

The resistance crumbled. Seven minutes later, it was two, another goal
of stunning simplicity as Lampard, collecting Anelka’s flick, fed
Malouda and the winger slotted home.

Newcastle could have conceded more as they chased the game, Lampard
twice testing Harper, Michael Ballack going close and Kalou wasting
one clear-cut opportunity.

Newcastle should at least have had a consolation they scarcely
deserved, Owen’s shot from Butt’s through ball seemingly squirming
over the line via John Obi Mikel’s chest, but Rob Styles, hoodwinked
by Ashley Cole’s desperate lunge, waved Newcastle’s appeals away.

All hope gone, Shearer’s faithful began to depart. He has not lost his
flock yet, but he has just seven games to save them.



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Mail:


Newcastle 0 Chelsea 2:
Hiddink's masters highlight Shear task of reviving the Toon
By Rob Draper


St James' Park was bathed in spring sunshine, Sir Bobby Robson and
Paul Gascoigne were back in town and throughout the city centre
black-and-white striped shirts were sported in defiant hope. It was
like a gathering of the clans and in these circumstances this stadium
is as inspiring as any, towering above players, fans and the city of
Newcastle itself.
And yet Newcastle United FC must begin acquainting themselves with the
prospect of relegation to the Championship. Alan Shearer, it
transpires, cannot produce instant makeovers of poor players or craft
immediate victories from a failing team.

Games at fellow strugglers Stoke and Tottenham and against Portsmouth
back here in the next three weeks will likely decide the issue, but
for now Newcastle remain three points adrift of safety with just seven
games to play.
'It was always a hard task and it still is,' said Shearer. 'There are
seven games now instead of eight but I'm optimistic. I'm confident
and, more importantly, my players are confident that we can avoid the
drop.

'One game is a hell of a long time in football and we have seven left.
Results have gone against us today but we already knew we were in a
fight.'
It was almost inevitable that the anticipation which preceded the
match would exceed the event itself, but no one quite expected as tame
a surrender as this, even though Shearer had done his best to temper
the understandable excitement.

Though he was last of all the coaching staff and players to emerge
from the tunnel to a predictable roar from the stands, there was to be
no indulging the cult of the local hero, despite the musical prompt.
He was submerged by photographers but made no effort to fight his way
out to acknowledge the crowd, nor was he tempted to encroach on to the
pitch for a cursory wave.
Even when he did first emerge from the dugout after 11 minutes to roar
instructions to his team, he still declined to respond to the chorus
requesting a wave. The louder they roared his name, the more intensely
his steely eyes focused on the match in hand. 'I was determined to
keep it as low key as possible,' he acknowledged. 'I'll try to do
anything to deflect it away from me.'

Early on, he laughed and joked with the linesman and fourth
officonfidencecial, yet soon he wore the creased frown of frustration.
Free-kicks had been wasted by Ryan Taylor, chances spurned by Obafemi
Martins, possession ceded and defence abandoned.
There was no shortage of endeavour, yet there is more than a lack of
at Newcastle; there is a scarcity of quality.
Granted, Newcastle were unfortunate to lose Peter Lovenkrands on 44
minutes to a back injury that saw him rushed to hospital with
breathing difficulties. Happily, he had stabilisedby the final whistle
but his departure was a heavy blow.
Lost amid all this was a revival of sorts, but not the one the
faithful had come to witness.

Chelsea recovered some of the ground they had lost when losing to
Tottenham two weeks ago and now stand again on the threshold of the
title race. 'Now we regret even more the points we lost at Spurs, but
until it is over we will keep fighting and putting pressure on both of
the teams at the top,' said Guus Hiddink.
The visitors' break came on 55 minutes and Fabricio Coloccini's
defending could not have been worse. It was his poor clearance that
allowed Chelsea to launch their attack. Then, as he stooped to clear
again, he dithered and touched the ball towards Steve Harper, allowing
Nicolas Anelka to pounce.
Harper bravely deflected that shot but it looped upwards and on to the
bar before falling kindly on to the head of Frank Lampard, who nodded
home from a few yards out. Shearer turned to his bench, arms
outstretched, incredulous.

Yet there was more. On 64 minutes, Newcastle's central defenders
failed to deal with a goal-kick from Petr Cech. Anelka won the header
and Lampard touched the ball to the onrushing Florent Malouda, who
finished calmly from eight yards out.
Only briefly were the home fans animated thereafter, when Owen weaved
his way through the penalty are and unleashed a shot which deflected
off John Obi Mikel. It seemed to travel well over the line before
Ashley Cole hooked clear, but referee Rob Styles waved play on.
It was an injustice, yet by the end even that seemed to be a footnote
and commendably Shearer acknowledged as much. 'The linesman made a
mistake but that's not an excuse. He's not the reason why we lost.'
So, there was to be no heroic homecoming. As Newcastle fans know
better than most, it takes more than a charismatic personality to
reverse a decade of mismanagement.

NEWCASTLE (4-4-2): Harper; Taylor, Beye, Coloccini, Enrique;
Gutierrez, Nolan (Guthrie 69min), Butt, Lovenkrands (Duff 44); Martins
(Carroll 81), Owen. Subs (not used): Smith, Geremi, Edgar, Forster.
CHELSEA (4-3-3): Cech; Ivanovic, Alex, Terry, A Cole; Essien (Ballack
57), Mikel, Lampard; Kalou, Anelka (Di Santo 67), Malouda. Subs (not
used): Carvalho, Deco, Belletti, Hilario, Mancienne.
Booked: Lampard, Mikel.
Referee: R Styles (Hampshire).


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Independent:


Chelsea give Shearer brutal reality check

Newcastle United 0 Chelsea 2

By Michael Walker at St James' Park

His head shaking, the swear words tumbling forth, his body taut with
repressed anger as he surely wondered about the decision he made last
Monday, Alan Shearer endured his introduction to the brutal trade of
football management yesterday. Looking emasculated as his beloved
Newcastle United crumbled before his eyes, Shearer was as powerless as
any of his predecessors to prevent one of Newcastle's essential
characteristics – dismal defending – from kicking in. Chelsea won with
too much to spare.

Some might think that in taking 56 minutes to self-destruct, Newcastle
had put in some sort of shift but it is no time for even gallows
humour. Newcastle will be relegated if they play like this and it
would not matter if they had Jock Stein, Brian Clough and Matt Busby
on the bench.

That Dennis Wise is attributed with a clinching role in the Ł12m
purchase of Fabricio Coloccini last summer from Deportivo La Coruńa is
an unappealing irony. It was Coloccini's basic error that led to Frank
Lampard's opener, while there was an absence of any Newcastle
challenge when Florent Malouda made it 2-0 nine minutes later.

There was some controversy in that Michael Owen had a deflected shot
cleared from behind the goalline by Ashley Cole eight minutes on which
would at least have altered a surprisingly subdued atmosphere – but
the ease with which Chelsea won was reminiscent of their 2-0 win here
at the end of last season.

Chelsea were heading off to Moscow then, now they go to Anfield on
Wednesday with another away clean sheet – their 11th in the Premier
League. Newcastle, however, have one win in 13 now and they travel to
Stoke next Saturday. It feels bleak indeed.

Yesterday never really took off for Shearer. As fans unfurled a
'Welcome Home' banner outside the Gallowgate End, inside the stadium
the screens were broadcasting events at Ewood Park. The two late goals
scored by Blackburn Rovers, Shearer's old club, were not the favour he
was looking for. At kick-off that meant the gap between Newcastle and
safety had gone up a point from two to three.

This was getting harder by the minute. There was no huddle by the
Newcastle players before the first whistle, which was a change of
practice, but it was just five minutes before Shearer was shaking his
head. That was not. Encouraging a better performance from the team is
one thing, but transforming individuals in the space of two training
sessions is another. And Jose Enrique has had more established
Newcastle managers than Shearer frustrated.

Not long after, at a Chelsea free-kick, Shearer looked at his defence
and swivelled round to his coaching staff to ask with bewilderment:
"Who's marking John Terry?"

That alarm passed but there were others in a first half that rammed
home to Shearer the deficiencies he has to conquer. Steve Harper made
a 19th-minute block from Malouda's header and only a last-ditch Habib
Beye tackle on Nicolas Anelka on 31 minutes prevented the Chelsea man
from getting in a direct strike.

Injuries meant Shearer had placed Ryan Taylor at right back and moved
Beye across to centre-half. It was makeshift defending and the absence
of Didier Drogba was a blessing. But the Chelsea midfield triangle of
Lampard, John Obi Mikel and Michael Essien were comfortable
throughout, though Chelsea's failing in the first half was that they
were too cautious, with not enough pressure exerted on Newcastle's
fragile back four.

That approach changed in the second half. Chelsea's increased urgency
was obvious as Malouda exchanged passes with Anelka to rattle the
chest of Harper on 51 minutes and then four later Anelka closed down
the dallying Coloccini.

That is not the hardest of forward tasks admittedly, and the panic
that ensued thereafter was predictable. It was scramble time as
Newcastle defenders dispersed; Lampard won a 50/50 with Coloccini,
Anelka went toe-to-toe with Harper and the ball was scooped on to the
bar. Waiting for it two yards out as it dropped was Lampard who nodded
the ball in. Coloccini slapped his sides.

Eight minutes later Jonas Gutierrez had a headed chance, one Shearer
would have buried. Gutierrez is still to score for Newcastle. Regret
came fast. From a Petr Cech goal-kick in the next minute, the ball
travelled 70 yards in the air. Anelka won it and there was Lampard to
collect. A simple short pass freed Malouda and his diagonal shot went
under Harper's outstretched left arm and into the far corner.



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Observer:


No happy homecoming for Shearer as Chelsea revive their title challenge

Newcastle United 0 Chelsea 2 Lampard 56, Malouda 65

Paul Wilson at St James' Park


What a surprise this was. Not that Alan Shearer failed to have an
instant galvanising effect on the Newcastle players – no one actually
believes he is capable of miracles – but that the famous Geordie crowd
did not manage much of a response to the return of a favourite son.

There were no party hats ŕ la King Kev, there was no great fanfare
from a stadium announcer who announced Shearer as "the" new manager
rather than "our" new manager, and most surprising of all there was
not so much as a hint of Walking in a Shearer Wonderland from the
crowd.

In point of fact there was nothing from the crowd. No bounce, no
noise, no emotional welcome. The occasion was flat. Perhaps Newcastle
are all messiahed out, and who could blame them?

Taking their lead from the terraces the teams duly served up a tepid,
forgettable first half. You would never have guessed Chelsea were
supposed to be challenging for the title, it looked a lot more like
they were keeping their powder dry for Wednesday night at Anfield,
when they will find a crowd capable of creating an atmosphere. In an
almost featureless 45 minutes before the interval, only Salomon Kalou
bringing a save from Steve Harper and Nicolas Anelka seeing a shot
blocked by Habib Beye's cover tackle were worthy of note. Newcastle
produced even less, just a half chance for Obafemi Martins from a José
Enrique cross that the striker was not quite sharp enough to accept.

Martins also shot high and wide early in the second half when a
misjudgment by John Terry allowed him a run at goal. It was already
beginning to look as though a scrappy game would only produce a goal
through a defensive mistake and that is how it proved, though the
error was Newcastle's and the beneficiaries Chelsea. Fabricio
Coloccini was too ponderous on the edge of his own area, allowing
Anelka first to block his clearance then beat him to the loose ball,
Anelka's shot over the advancing Harper bounced up off the crossbar
and Frank Lampard followed up for an easy header into an unguarded
net.

That might have been enough to see off Newcastle, who had never looked
much like scoring, though just to make sure Chelsea scored a second
nine minutes later. Anelka was involved again, heading on an upfield
clearance that came all the way from Petr Cech for Florent Malouda to
easily turn Ryan Taylor and shoot past an exposed Harper.

Newcastle were possibly unlucky when Ashley Cole cleared Michael
Owen's shot from a position the striker spent some time insisting was
at least a foot behind the line. Replays suggested Owen might have had
a point, though it would have been a difficult decision for the
assistant to award, and Rob Styles did check before waving play on.
Shearer had a moan about it too when he checked his monitor but, being
powerless to do anything about it, had to revert to striking a
succession of macho poses in the technical area and occasionally
appealing for free kicks. A bit like his final days as a player, in
fact. Losing to Chelsea is no disgrace, though it is the powerless
feeling Shearer is going to have to come to terms with, and quickly.



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NOTW:

NEWCASTLE 0, CHELSEA 2

It's car-crash football for Shearer

From ANDY DUNN at St James' Park

SNAKING along 10 miles of A1 tarmac, a traffic queue inched slowly
towards Newcastle yesterday morning.

"Shearer? St James' Park?" I asked a traffic cop. "No, car crash," he
replied. And never a truer word was said.

Brand new Messiah, same old mess.

If he hadn't sussed it from five-minute highlights packages on Match
of the Day, Shearer knows it now. His beloved club is a footballing
pile-up.

Collision

A sad collision of nostalgia, boadroom comedy and amateur technique.

Gazza shambled around in the stands, Mike Ashley sat with that
familiar bemused look, Shearer spent most of his managerial debut
turning to his bench and asking what the hell was going on - in
language no TV channel would broadcast.

On the field, his team were swatted away by a Chelsea side on a
glorified training exercise ahead of Wednesday's Champions League game
at Anfield. If Shearer's mind is already drifting to a sofa in West
London, who would blame him?

Defensively, Newcastle were a calamity waiting to happen. In midfield,
they were lumpen, leaden-footed and loose with possession. Up front,
Michael Owen merely loaded the gun for his critics and Obafemi Martins
lives in a blind alley. Apart from that...

Drinking

They like drinking in Shearer's Bar before the game. After goals from
Frank Lampard - easily the game's most accomplished player - and
Florent Malouda it should be renamed the Last Chance Saloon.

And there was nothing here to suggest that Shearer will help Newcastle
take that chance. Not even the fervent backing we all expected. They
gave Shearer a decent reception but they were hardly laying garlands
at his feet. Some almost smelt it for the gimmick it could well turn
out to be.

For his part, Shearer looked to the dugout born. A suit sharp enough
to slice a half-time orange, the tie-knot a work of precision. And he
slipped effortlessly into banter/berating role-play with the fourth
official, the inanely grinning Mark Halsey.

That was before Shearer saw at shopfloor level the tools he has to
work with. From then on, he was spinning on his heels with increasing
frequency, mouthing his exasperation into the dugout.

Rare

"That was a ****** chance," he declared to Iain Dowie and company as
Martins slashed one towards the Tyne.

If it was, it was a rare one.

There were a couple of Martins moments and Owen was wrongly denied
when Ashley Cole hooked away a deflected shot which was so far over
the line it almost lifted the net-pegs out of the ground.

It would have reduced the arrears to one and perhaps given Chelsea an
uncomfortable final 20 minutes.

It might even have forced them to break sweat. To take their eyes from
the task on Merseyside and concentrate on matters in hand.

Flame

This was meant to be a stern examination, an assault on their senses.
Instead, it turned into a saunter.

And amidst the Shearer hullabaloo, it is worth remembering that this
is a result that keeps Chelsea's Premier League flame flickering.

And. as usual, the torch-bearer is Lampard.

Which leads me to a word about Rob Styles. Terrible.

None of the blue-chip blunders that have dotted his career - just a
steady trickle of tedious mistakes and misjudgements.

Lampard took a dive, fact. But it was a delayed reaction to a familiar
Nicky Butt ankle-clip.

Grandstanding, Styles flourished a yellow. Fine.

But just a few minutes earlier, he had allowed Butt to go uncautioned
for a challenge on Malouda that was half hack, half half-nelson.

But I suppose it was one point of interest in a truly lousy first half.

Errors

Guus Hiddink clearly turned up the revs a touch at half-time and
Chelsea soon pulled clear.

Lampard's nod into an empty net was the culmination of a comedy of
errors - with Fabricio Coloccini the star turn.

The Argentinian's half-blocked clearance and his half-hearted tackle
led to Nicolas Anelka's shot looping off Habib Beye, onto the crossbar
and down onto Frank's head.

It was a goal Lampard's performance deserved but I'm not quite sure it
warranted his taunting celebrations towards all sides of the ground.
Everything else was class about Lampard yesterday, but not that.

His pass for the second was certainly class, releasing Malouda with
Rolex timing for the Frenchman to slide it beneath Steve Harper.

Anelka was then withdrawn to prepare for his Champions League duties
and Chelsea eased down to a canter.

They would have been punished had FIFA introduced goalline technology
when they had the chance a couple of years ago.

Issue

But, to his credit, Shearer refused to apportion any responsibility
for his first managerial defeat to the officials.

He knew that to do so would have deflected attention away from the
real issue at St James' Park.

A supply of confidence that is matched in its shortage only by the
supply of quality.

To make matters worse, Peter Lovenkrands - lively for some while -
ended up in hospital with a nasty-looking back injury.

This, of course, was a game that Shearer really didn't expect to win,
even allowing for the euphoria effect (which actually never
materialised).

The full week's training and the trip to the Britannia Stadium, Stoke,
is what was probably on his mind when the flashbulbs popped on
Thursday.

During his time as a striker here, Shearer always found a way to
score. Any way would do. Head, feet, arms, backside.

Somehow, he has got to find a way to keep this wreck afloat.

"You're getting sacked in the morning," chanted the Chelsea supporters.

And Shearer might have been forgiven if, for a brief moment, he
thought... "If only".