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Shearer's debut game marred by defeat

Apr 5 2009 by Phil Doherty, Sunday Sun

THE King returned to Tyneside yesterday but the fans who have had a spring in their step all week now have their feet firmly back on the ground.

A crowd of 52,112 turned out to welcome Alan Shearer back to St James’s Park yesterday hoping their hero would help turn over the mighty Chelsea.

The fairytale beginning wasn’t to be, his side went down 2-0, but at least the former captain looked the part.

The man who, as a mighty centre forward, once marauded across this pitch instead spent most of the match stalking the technical area, chewing gum and barking out orders to players.

Earlier, he had made a low-key entrance, pursued by hordes of photographers as other former favourites, including Peter Beardsley and Paul Gascoigne looked on.

Shearer declined to milk his reception after emerging from the tunnel, satisfying himself with some rabble-rousing programme notes instead.

And throughout the match, he resisted all calls from the home stands to give them a wave.

But despite his dreams of managing Newcastle coming true, he couldn’t prevent defeat . . . and the relegation battle continues.

After Sunderland and Middlesbrough’s defeats, the North East teams make up three of the bottom four in the Premier League.

After the match the fans said they were still convinced that Alan Shearer is the man to save Newcastle United from the drop.

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