Newcastle get a breather but still not safe from relegation
The Magpies moved out of the drop zone with a 3-1 win over local and relegation rivals Middlesbrough at St James’ Park.
After overseeing his first victory as a manager in what he had described as the biggest match of his career , Shearer ordered his players to enjoy the moment – but not for too long.
Goals from Steven Taylor, and substitutes Obafemi Martins and Peter Lovenkrands, handed the Magpies their first Barclays Premier League win anywhere since 7th February and their first at St James’ Park in 2009.
More importantly, it dragged them out of the bottom three at the expense of Hull City, and sends them into Saturday’s home match with Fulham knowing a repeat could preserve their top-flight status.
However, while delighted to have tasted victory for the first time as a manager at the sixth attempt, Shearer was refusing to take his eye off the bigger picture.
He said: “I have just said to them, ‘Enjoy this tonight, enjoy that winning feeling. You have worked your socks off to get it, now it’s in our hands’.
“I said to them before, ‘It’s been a good weekend, let’s go and make it a great one tonight with the right result’.
“It’s been a great weekend for us – but there are another two weekends to come.
“It’s the first game of three. We asked them to go out and get three points, they have done that.
“The players were magnificent under difficult circumstances. They have got now to go and do that again on Saturday, enjoy that winning feeling and hopefully, there’s another one there on Saturday.
“But it will be just as tough because Fulham are flying themselves.”
The Magpies had to come from behind to see off their derby rivals after conceding within three minutes of kick-off.
There was a touch of misfortune about Boro’s goal as Habib Beye bundled the ball into his own net after Steve Harper had blocked Tuncay Sanli’s shot at point-blank range.
Shearer’s luck was out once again three minutes later when Boro old boy Mark Viduka rattled the upright with keeper Brad Jones beaten, but he did not have to wait long for their equaliser.
Defender Taylor powered a header home from Danny Guthrie’s corner, and the home side looked ready to assume control.
However, Boro refused to let them have it all their own way and worryingly for Shearer, it was they who took control as the game reached the hour-mark, prompting him to withdraw Jonas Gutierrez and Michael Owen and send on Lovenkrands and Martins.
The Nigeria striker had been on the pitch for just 55 seconds when he fired the Magpies in front with 19 minutes remaining, and as Boro rallied once again, Lovenkrands completed the job four minutes from time.
Shearer said: “You make substitutions and hope for them to have an impact but I would be a liar if I said I planned it to be quite that quick.
“Obafemi Martins did everything asked of him, not just with the goal but his overall play. But every single one of the players was magnificent and they all deserve tremendous credit.
“I have just said, ‘Enjoy it, enjoy it lads because we have been in that bottom three for a long time. Enjoy being out of it and let’s make sure we are not back in there again’.
“It is a magnificent feeling and I really believe we will [stay up], but we have won one game.
“Let’s enjoy this, but we have to prepare for Saturday. This victory will give them the confidence which has been lacking and it will give the fans a real lift too.
“There is still a long way to go. I don’t want to sound negative, but it’s one win. We have got to get another two and make sure we are safe.”
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Mark Hughes is big enough for Manchester City
Manchester City manager Mark Hughes insists he is a big enough name to guide the club to where they want to be.
Speculation has been rife since the Abu Dhabi United Group took charge that they would be looking to replace Hughes, in favour of a more high-profile coach, but the Welshman insists he has a big enough ‘profile’ to suit the club and drive their push for success.
“Maybe my profile in Europe is a bit bigger than some people might suggest,” he told the Daily Telegraph. “Three of the clubs I played for are in the Champions League semi-finals, so I think that underlines my credentials in terms of working with the best players at the biggest clubs.
“We want to bring in stars that will get everybody excited, but there are still elements of the squad that need strengthening.
“We have seen improved results since we added to the squad in January and we are hopeful of acquiring the players we want in the summer. If we succeed, then with the gains we have made this year, we will be much stronger.”
He insists that the club’s hierarchy have never intimated to him that his job is at risk.
“I have had no indication that I won’t be here next season, but why shouldn’t I be?” Hughes said. “I’ll be really disappointed if I am not, simply because of what we have gone through and the things we have had to face before coming through the other side.
“They [Abu Dhabi] have told me to get on with the job and that’s what I’ll be doing.
“My dealings with Sheikh Mansour and Khaldoon are very amicable, but ever since I came through the door, I have been consistent in my message that it is going to take a long time to be where we want to be.”
Hughes insists that he has done a lot of hard work behind the scenes and he wants to see the results of what he has already put in place.
“We have done the pain this season, now we want to see the fruits of our labour,” he said. “We have come a hell of a long way in a short period of time and that stimulates us because we have done a decent job here and it is nowhere near finished.
“The turnover of managers here hasn’t helped continuity, because they have never had any. Basically, change is expected here. Change for the sake of change.
“One of the things I realised when I came here was that there were not enough things in place to enable this club to be successful in the future.
“I’m honest enough to admit that it has taken longer than I expected to change that. We are trying to get the message out that, unlike other clubs, we are starting from the ground level. Maybe people don’t want to hear that, though, because it’s easier to put pressure on our situation if those things aren’t highlighted.”
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Benitez : Newcastle is no threat
Liverpool are clinging onto Manchester United’s coat-tails at the top of the Barclays Premier League while Newcastle are in the relegation zone, three points adrift of fourth-from-bottom Hull City.
The Merseysiders turned in one of their best performances of the season against the Magpies in December when they won 5-1 at St James’ Park.
However Benitez knows they are likely to face a much tougher test at Anfield on Sunday in a match vital to both clubs.
“We were really good that day,” said Benitez. “We were in control, we had a lot of chances and their goalkeeper (Shay Given) was man of the match. It was nearly a perfect game for us.”
Steven Gerrard, who has missed the last four matches with a groin injury, is set to return to face Alan Shearer’s side, but Manchester United could be six points clear of Liverpool at the top if they win at Middlesbrough on Saturday.
But whatever United’s result, Benitez knows his side simply have to win if they want to hold onto any hope of landing the title – and he insists a display similar to the one which blew Newcastle away last time the sides met is the requirement again.
“It will be different this time because they have a different manager and are in a different situation,” he added.
“And clearly they need to win, so I don’t think they will be waiting and waiting for a draw. They have quality players in attack.
“We just need to keep doing our job and we have the confidence to keep winning games. If Manchester United make a mistake then we have to be ready, so we must take three points from each game and then see what happens. We will not give up until the end.” – EPL
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Ryan Giggs says he will never leave United
The newly-crowned PFA Player of the Year made his 800th Red Devils appearance in Wednesday’s Champions League win over Arsenal.
With Middlesbrough to come in the Barclays Premier League on Saturday before next Tuesday’s return leg at the Emirates Stadium, Giggs know he will be used sparingly by Sir Alex Ferguson as he tries to get the most out of his squad.
For Giggs, an 11th league championship medal and third Champions League gong are on the horizon – proof of the value of being a one-club man, when the club is as successful as United.
There was a time when the former Wales skipper was linked with a move abroad, most notably with Inter Milan. However, Giggs did not consider the prospect and it was never remotely close.
“It was never a consideration to leave,” he said. “I was linked with a few clubs but it was never really close. Why would I think about it when I was always happy here?” – EPL
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Guss Hiddink believes Chelsea can sink Liverpool
Although Hiddink’s side have one foot in the semi-finals after last week’s stunning 3-1 victory at Anfield, Liverpool have developed a habit of upsetting the form book in Europe under Rafael Benitez.
Guus Hiddink believes Chelsea’s unbreakable team spirit will stop Liverpool staging a famous revival in Tuesday’s Champions League quarter-final second leg.
Liverpool’s fightback from 3-0 down to win the 2005 Champions League final against AC Milan proved how dangerous they can be, but it would take a spectacular meltdown to deny Chelsea a probable last four showdown against Barcelona, 4-0 winners over Bayern Munich in their first leg.”There is a fantastic spirit around this club, everyone believes in what we can achieve this season and it is exciting to be a part of that,” he said.
“But we must not lose our focus for one game or one minute and that means each game is as important as the next one. We have the same aim, which is to try and win all of them.
“It is important that we take the momentum gained from winning at Anfield into this game and keep our level of performance up.”
While a less resolute team could crack under the pressure of an early Liverpool goal on Tuesday, Blues boss Hiddink is convinced the squad’s togetherness will play a key role in finishing the job at Stamford Bridge.When Hiddink arrived at Chelsea in February the club’s season was in danger of fizzling out, but he quickly won the respect of players who were unconvinced by Scolari’s laidback regime.
Now Chelsea look back to their intimidating best and they could still finish the season with a treble. Saturday’s 4-3 win over Bolton kept them within four points of Manchester United in the Premier League, while Tuesday’s Liverpool showdown is followed by an FA Cup semi-final against Arsenal at Wembley.When Hiddink arrived at Chelsea in February the club’s season was in danger of fizzling out, but he quickly won the respect of players who were unconvinced by Scolari’s laidback regime.
Now Chelsea look back to their intimidating best and they could still finish the season with a treble. Saturday’s 4-3 win over Bolton kept them within four points of Manchester United in the Premier League, while Tuesday’s Liverpool showdown is followed by an FA Cup semi-final against Arsenal at Wembley.