'Lack of effort cost us', says Shearer

Alan Shearer accused his team-mates of lack of effort as Newcastle tumbled out of the FA Cup at the hands of First Division Wolves.

The Magpies had been lucky to recover from 2-0 down to 2-2 at half-time but Wolves’ determination and energy saw them claim the winning goal to see off the Premiership side 3-2.

Shearer said: “Not enough of us were putting the effort in today. I’ve lost count of how many times we have got ourselves back in the game this season and then committed suicide again.

“It is very disappointing but I have to say they deserved it. They played very well and we presented them with some great opportunities and they took them.”

The winning goal came from George Ndah after Newcastle had come back from 2-0 down.

Excellent strikes by Paul Ince and Mark Kennedy had put Wolves in control but they were were pegged back at the break by Jermaine Jenas and Shearer’s penalty.

Newcastle manager Sir Bobby Robson said: “You have to give Wolves credit - they ran their hearts out and played better than they have done for a number of matches. They were up for it and they got a mammoth victory.

“I am not just disappointed – I am sick. We have lost a gigantic game. I am cross, but I am trying to keep cool.

“The FA Cup is gone for us – it is history.

“I hope some of the players are as sick as I am. Again we have conceded three goals away from home and it is really unexplainable – we are not defending as well as we do at home.

“All three of their goals came from the back post. We did not defend very well. Whether the players don’t give their all I don’t know. We have had words, cross words, we have been angry with each other.

“This was a cruel defeat for this club. Nothing hurts more than the defeat.”

The victory provided some relief for Wolves manager Dave Jones, whose future at the club has been clouded by some scathing criticism from his chairman Sir Jack Hayward during the week.

Jones insisted he was not affected by the chairman’s comments, saying: “I haven’t read it, I don’t intend to read it. I’m just focusing on my job, keeping my head down and doing the job to the best of my ability.

“Today I’m a good coach and manager, the next time we lose I’ll be a bad coach. This is the pressure in management and some people don’t believe me but I enjoy every minute of it – I just enjoy it more when we are winning.”

Jones added: “It was a big disappointment for us to concede the two goals but at half-time the players still believed they could get something from the game.

“What we haven’t got is the level of consistency and we have not been taking our chances. What we have done is shown what we are capable of. If we had not been at our best today they would have turned us over.

“Everybody was fully committed and it showed in the goal-line clearances we made.”