We'll keep fighting insists Shearer

Apr 28 2009 By Mark Douglas, The Journal

Despite not taking three points from a game that he believes was ‘must-win’ Shearer still believes United have enough to stay afloat. The work-rate, commitment and effort of those in black and white was a huge comfort for the Newcastle boss – despite the lack of end product.

"Absolutely I have seen enough to suggest we’ve got a chance," he said. "You won’t get anywhere without effort and commitment and we showed plenty of that. Probably the last ten minutes we were dead on our feet but if one of our chances had gone in we’d have been picked up again.

"We’ll all be looking at those chances thinking ‘If one of them goes in’ but that’s the difference, isn’t it?"

Owen’s miss when released by Viduka in the 63rd minute was the turning point, although Martins also spurned a glorious chance when he fired over from five yards.

The profligacy of United’s one-time England man offers more ammunition for critics who accuse him of being passed his best, but Shearer will stick with him. United’s boss said: "Confidence in football is huge and at the minute the team aren’t winning games. You get into a habit and at the moment it’s very difficult to win a game. If we keep creating chances we know that he will score. We would have loved it tonight – it hasn’t come so we look to the next game."

Meanwhile, Jose Enrique is set to miss the trip to Liverpool after suffering a hamstring injury in the first half.

"We don’t know how much of a blow it will be - he will have a scan on it and we’ll know more. My experience of hamstrings suggests he’ll be out this weekend," Shearer admitted.