Shearer says NUFC need to make a good start against Portsmouth

Apr 22 2009 by Mark Douglas, The Journal

NEWCASTLE United manager Alan Shearer has made combating his side’s lacklustre starts a priority as he looks for the kind of high-tempo opening that has been missing since he took over.

The United boss cut a frustrated figure on Sunday as his side were once again left to play catch-up after a feeble first-half effort let Tottenham establish a supremacy that they didn’t surrender – in spite of a strong finish from the visitors.

It was a familiar story for Shearer’s struggling side, who were disappointing in the first 45 minutes of their crucial relegation clash with Stoke before rallying in the final quarter of the match to claim a point.

A similar slow start in the ‘must-win’ game against Portsmouth on Monday would be disastrous for United – especially with Shearer hoping to harness the energy of the St James’s Park crowd to help spur his team to their first win since February.

Shearer and assistant boss Iain Dowie spent yesterday mulling over possible solutions to the problem – including altering the training regime, adopting an attack-minded 4-3-3 formation and “simplifying things” for the first 20 minutes of the game. Attack-minded midfielder Joey Barton may be handed a start if he continues to make good progress from the broken foot suffered in January.

While Kevin Nolan may also be freed from his defensive responsibilities to make an impression further up the pitch.

Whatever he decides on, Shearer will be re-iterating the importance of a high octane start to the crucial game.

Assistant boss Iain Dowie, who is handling midweek media duties as Shearer works around the clock on United’s salvage mission, revealed that solving the problem was a key part of the preparation for the Portsmouth game.

“We haven’t had that quick start that we’re looking for and it is absolutely crucial that we do better in the first half on Monday,” Dowie said.