Dyer warns team-mates

By Matthew Jones
August 15 2002

Kieron Dyer has warned his team-mates they will be bundled out of the Champions League by Zeljeznicar if they take their tie too lightly.

Kieron Dyer has warned his team-mates they will be bundled out of the Champions League by Zeljeznicar if they take their tie too lightly.

Midfielder Dyer is the first to admit Newcastle have strolled through pre-season but insists they cannot afford to do the same against the side from Sarajevo.

"If we go out against Zeljeznicar with our minds not totally focused we will lose and all our achievements last season will count for nothing," said Dyer.

"We know how important the Champions League is - not just for the club and the fans - but for us as players.

"We all want to play in the biggest club competition in the world but we have to remember we are not in it yet.

"It is essential we win the game, but complacency is our greatest enemy."

Meanwhile, skipper Alan Shearer is aiming to scratch a seven-year Champions League itch when he lines up in Sarajevo tonight.

Incredibly, former England captain Shearer has not played in Europe's top club competition since 1995.

And that experience with Blackburn was memorable for all the wrong reasons, with Rovers winning only one game in their group and two of their players - David Batty and Graeme Le Saux - coming to blows.

"This could well be the pinnacle of my club career if we get through to the group stage of the competition," said Shearer. "I've been involved in the Champions League with Blackburn and it was not a great experience.

"We were inexperienced in Europe and all the good work we had done the season before fizzled out.
"We have to make sure we don't let the same thing happen to Newcastle this time."