Shearer on the offensive crediting defenders for Magpies resurgence

NEWCASTLE skipper Alan Shearer has hailed his side’s often criticised defence for allowing he and his flying team-mates to fire the club into the race for honours.

Bobby Robson’s men have earned their fair share of plaudits for the prowess of the likes of Shearer, Craig Bellamy, Kieron Dyer and Laurent Robert going forward, but the perceived wisdom has been that they would win nothing until they sorted out their defensive problems.

Indeed, there was only one focus during the January transfer window as Robson and chairman Freddy Shepherd launched a successful bid to take Leeds United’s England defender Jonathan Woodgate to St James’ Park.