Shearer: No More Excuses

By Nick Raynor
October 22 2005

Alan Shearer has said there can be no more excuses ahead of the Tyne-Wear derby clash on Sunday.

Newcastle have been blaming a lack of consistency on a long injury list, but the Newcastle skipper, one of 4 Geordies in the Toon squad for tomorrow, says there can be no excuses against Sunderland.

 

Shearer said:

 

"I know the manager and everyone at the club are sick and tired of talking about our huge injury list.

 

“There are no excuses before we run out tomorrow, but we could do with a little bit of luck from somewhere.

 

"You just go out and play, even though, of course, it has been a frustrating season.

 

"What else do you do, feel sorry for yourself? No! Just get out and have a battle, have a fight and do it for yourself and the fans.

 

"People don't want to hear about how many injuries you have got, people don't want to hear any problems, they want to see results - that is all that matters, results."

 

"We all know what is at stake, it is Newcastle v Sunderland, full stop. That tells its own story.

 

"It will be a tough game, they always are and Mick McCarthy will have them wound up. It was always going to be a massive game whether we had won 3-0 last week or lost 3-0.

 

"And because we lost at Wigan doesn't mean a win is more important, we always had to win this game anyway.

 

"This game is always massive to me, how could it be any bigger, we are facing Sunderland after all!

 

"How can anyone suggest that it could possibly mean more than it does? Try asking our fans whether it is massive. Of course it is, and not because of me or the manager, or the situation we currently find ourselves in."