Toon Players Starting To Believe?

Last updated : 13 April 2009 By Footy Mad - Editor
Alan Shearer: "The attitude of the players has been great.

"In the second half I thought they showed me what they had done in training during the week.

"They showed they can pass it, they can play, and with a little bit more confidence and belief in themselves then we will go on and get results - certainly that's the aim.

"After going a goal down I thought they handled the situation well because there have been too many times this season when Newcastle have conceded a goal, then crumbled and conceded another.

"But it was far from that today as you saw players throwing their bodies on the line, throwing themselves into tackles and prepared to get cut.

"We're going to need all of that, and a little bit more, if we are to survive.

"But the belief is there, which is okay in training, but you have to produce it in the big arena.

"We did that in the second half, and they should take great heart from that - I take great heart from that because I've now seen it in a game.

"We've done it for 45 minutes, but we now have to do it in every game we play.

"It was a towering header, a fantastic header, one I would have been proud of myself.

"I told him and Nile Ranger, who were both on the bench today, that if they wanted to play a huge part in our survival fight then they have to show me in games.

"They did that in the reserves on Monday, and that is why they were in the squad and on the bench, with Andy getting on and proving a point.

"I want everyone to do that - we're going to need to do that."