Sunderland beat Newcastle United 2-1 at St. James’ Park on Sunday.
Regis Le Bris’ side came from behind to seal a famous league double over their bitter rivals this season, with Brian Brobbey scoring a 90th-minute on Tyneside after Chemsdine Talbi had pulled his side level earlier in the second half.
The result compounded a miserable week for Newcastle, who also lost 7-2 to Barcelona in the Champions League on Wednesday evening, but reflecting on a painful defeat for his beloved club, Shearer suggested that their European setback was no excuse for the insipid second-half display they produced at the weekend.
What did Alan Shearer say about Newcastle United’s defeat vs Sunderland?
Speaking on the latest episode of The Rest Is Football, Shearer said: “I'm not accepting that midweek caught up with them, not in a derby game. I don't buy that. You can't be tired, that's not an excuse.
“They got battered in the second half against Barcelona. I get that, I understand that, and the travelling and all of that. They were the better team, Newcastle, in the first half and Sunderland really struggled to cope with the intensity. I mean, it was madness the way Sunderland gifted Newcastle the first goal. Brilliant from Anthony Gordon, but I mean, what on earth are you doing inside the first 10 minutes trying to play out like that? That's what Newcastle wanted you to do.
”They punished them for that and I was getting so worried - I said it at half time that Sunderland can't be as bad in the second half, because Newcastle should have scored another one, maybe two more. I was always fearful that they would come back and increase the intensity. And they did that right from the first minute, Sunderland.
“And Newcastle couldn't cope with it. I'm saying, ‘Come on, someone should put the foot on the ball’. I was just getting so annoyed and so angry. And, yeah, Sunderland were the better team and punished us.”
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He continued: “Brian Brobbey was probably the best player for Sunderland. £17 million he cost from Ajax. You compare that to Newcastle's recruitment in the summer and what they paid on forwards, and there lies the problem. That's been a huge problem for Newcastle, the inconsistency. Sunderland wanted it more than Newcastle in the second half and that is pretty damning. Particularly after the way Newcastle played in their first game at Stadium of Light. And he got it all wrong in that game. And he couldn't lift his players in the second half and that is really, really worrying and disappointing.
“Well done, Sunderland. They were the better team. They deserved to win. Good on them, as much as it hurts me to say that. But worrying for Newcastle and big questions will be asked. It's going to be a long two or three weeks for Newcastle now, the international break, because people will be hurt, people will be angry and there'll be so much **** thrown at Eddie [Howe] and Newcastle now. And he has to cope with that and understand that, as do the people that are running the club.”
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