Shearer spares Magpies’ blushes

Alan Shearer netted the only goal as Grimsby’s hopes of claiming another Premiership scalp foundered against Newcastle in their Carling Cup third-round meeting tonight.

The Mariners, who caused one of the big shocks of the second round by eliminating Tottenham, held Newcastle for 80 minutes until Michael Chopra turned the ball into his skipper’s path, who made no mistake with a left-foot finish.