Shearer factor can save us says Gutiérrez

Apr 21 2009 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

JONÁS Gutiérrez is adamant that Newcastle United’s players still believe they can escape from relegation because of Alan Shearer’s presence as manager.

Although Shearer has failed to lead his side to victory in any of his three games in charge and his triumphant return has not sparked the immediate revival the club’s fans had hoped for, Gutiérrez revealed the new boss has still made a positive impression behind the scenes.

United’s defeat at in-form Spurs on Sunday means the Magpies are four points adrift of safety and, should results go against them next weekend, could be seven points behind the fourth-bottom side by the time they entertain Portsmouth at St James’s Park on Monday.

It is a terribly perilous situation to be in, but Gutiérrez argued nobody in the Newcastle dressing room had conceded defeat in their increasingly desperate bid to avoid the drop.

“The manager tries to work with all the players and tells everyone to be positive and to think that we can do this,” said Gutiérrez, who returned to the starting line-up at White Hart Lane.

“That is very important for us. We have to believe like this for the next five games until the end of the season. The boss is talking to us and wants to make us better players. The team tries its best in every game. We have to think about the next game now, we have to keep the belief.

“We have to believe in ourselves and the team. If we don’t then it is impossible for us to do what we need to.”

For United to have a realistic ambition of remaining in the top flight they must win all three of their remaining home games this season.

With that in mind, next Monday night’s clash with Pompey promises to be a horribly tense occasion and Shearer is set to appeal directly to fans later this week urging them to make St James’s Park a boiling cauldron of noise for the whole 90 minutes.

If that sort of atmosphere can be generated and Portsmouth are sent home defeated, then Gutiérrez remains confident that Newcastle’s under-performing side can somehow drag themselves clear of the dreaded drop zone over the next five games.