Beye stays positive for do-or-die derby

HABIB BEYE has urged his Newcastle team-mates to adopt Alan Shearer’s winning mentality to hand the manager a first victory just when he needs it most.

The Magpies face derby rivals Middlesbrough at St James’ Park tonight knowing a first three-point haul since February 7 would lift them above Hull on goal difference and out of the Premier League relegation zone with just two games to play.

They are equally well aware that the alternative is simply not an option, and Beye knows the time has come to deliver a maiden victory in six attempts for Shearer in what the manager last week described as the biggest game of his career.

The Senegal international found himself in direct competition with the now 38-year-old striker when Newcastle met Marseille in the 2004 UEFA Cup semi-final, and has revealed he has lost none of his will to win, even on the training pitch, during the ensuing years.

“He is still strong, when he is playing with us in training, he is still really strong, and he is a winner,” Beye said. “You can see when he plays all the small games sometimes with us, he is still a winner and he wants to win every game, and that’s the mentality we must have.

“Maybe he has lost some pace, but he is still a good scorer every time. When I give him a good delivery, he scores.

“He has done a great job for us with [assistant] Iain Dowie. I believe we will stay in the Premier League and I hope for the club he will stay next year and bring something good for the next year.”

Shearer’s continued presence on Tyneside – he has insisted all along that his return to St James’ would last just eight games, although there is a growing feeling he is ready to commit himself for a longer period – will depend on a series of factors, although relegation or otherwise may not be one of them.

“A victory would be massive, without a doubt,” Shearer said. “It would give everyone a huge lift confidence-wise, belief-wise.

“But I believe we can do that, I really do. I have seen enough in the players, not only this week, but in previous games.

“If we go into it and we create chances like we did in our previous home game, I am pretty sure at least one will go in.”

Gareth Southgate, the Middelesbrough manager, was doing his best to play down the hype.

“You would have to question whether this is bigger than the game where we had waited 128 years to win a trophy – you have to question whether it is bigger than a European final,” he said.

“We love to hype matches – this obviously has tremendous importance for both teams, and other teams at the bottom of the table, but there are still two more games to play after it.”