Shearer calls on the fans' passion

Apr 27 2009 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

ALAN Shearer has appealed for Newcastle United’s fans to play their part in ensuring the right sort of history is made against Portsmouth tonight as he urged them to transform St James’s Park into a boiling cauldron of noise.

Shearer is well aware of the pain and frustration United’s followers have had to endure this season, but he is adamant that has to be forgotten if the Magpies are going to win their three remaining home games and have any chance of avoiding the drop.

Although the atmosphere at St James’s Park remains a famous one, it has rarely ignited this season as anger and frustration has soured so much of the campaign following the departure of Kevin Keegan, while several players have even complained about a negativity from the stands in recent years.

But United’s new manager, who has been buoyed by Sunderland’s defeat by West Brom, Middlesbrough’s reverse at Arsenal and Hull City’s loss to Liverpool over the weekend, believes none of that matters for the next few weeks.

He said: “The atmosphere at St James’s does give you a lift. I have said it already, and I know we keep asking our fans for things and they might get fed up of us asking, but for three games I am asking them to really turn it on and make it a

really good atmosphere. I understand they are as nervous as everyone else, but I want it to be great on Monday from the first minute. An atmosphere the players will enjoy playing in and hopefully we can repay them by giving them something to shout about.

“I hope it will be an atmosphere that the opposition won’t enjoy. I know Portsmouth have some experienced players, but I want it to be intimidating.”