Saints (a) : Souness Speaks & Shearer Claims Goal

By Matthew Jones
September 19 2004

Graeme Souness speaks after Newcastle's 2-1 victory away at Southampton on Sunday.

Alan Shearer, Craig Bellamy and Patrick Kluivert all started the match, but Souness knows that the next few weeks will be tough.  He will have to leave several quality players on the bench, and knows that some may be disapointed. 

Souness has called for unity, and speaking to Sky Sports, said:

"We were gritty and determined and it was a good three points for us.

"I brought players like Alan [Shearer] back because I feel away from home we need to be a wee bit harder to play against. I left Laurent Robert out because we needed to be a bit more solid.

"It's a lovely problem [trying to accommodate players] and everything in the garden is rosy.

"The problem arises when you leave the big stars out when they feel they should be in the team. "We need that togetherness that has been the hallmark of Manchester United and Arsenal."

On another note, Alan Shearer has confirmed that he will be claiming Newcastle's first goal.  David Prutton was marked down by officials as netting an own goal, but Shearer said:

"As far as I am aware I shot and it went in the back of the net. Try to take it off me!"