Alan Shearer reaffirmed last night that it is he, not Craig Bellamy, who should be considered indispensable at Newcastle United. With a majestic strike Shearer not only scored the 250th Premiership goal of his career but demonstrated why Graeme Souness, possibly for his own preservation, is so dedicated to extending the striker's playing life.
Shearer's mere presence must be reassuring for Souness in these tempestuous times and his goal will linger longest in the memory from an otherwise disappointing evening. A clinical finish, it ought really to have precipitated a Newcastle victory, but Manchester City emerged from a wretched first-half performance to equalise through Robbie Fowler's penalty and, with most of the possession in the final exchanges, they could conceivably have left Souness facing more awkward questions about Bellamy.
Given the current politics on Tyneside, Souness's attempt to dissuade Shearer from retiring at the end of the season is based on sound judgment. The classic, right-foot drive that Shearer rifled past David James in the ninth minute means he is now only 14 away from emulating the double century that makes Jackie Millburn the all-time record scorer at St James' Park.
City were fairly desperate in the first half, but within four minutes of the restart their first attack of real fluency paid dividends. Joey Barton worked the ball to Jon Macken whose clever flick sent Sean Wright-Phillips scurrying into the penalty area.
Titus Bramble had got the wrong side of his man and was panicked into a clumsy challenge for a clear penalty. Fowler, hitherto anonymous, stepped forward to score his sixth league goal of the season.
MANCHESTER CITY: James, Mills, Dunne, Distin, Thatcher, S Wright-Phillips, Barton, Bosvelt, Musampa, Fowler, Macken (B Wright-Phillips 84). Subs Not Used: Weaver, Onuoha, McManaman, Jordan. Booked: Distin, Bosvelt. Goal: Fowler 49 pen.
NEWCASTLE: Given, Carr, O'Brien, Bramble, Babayaro, Bowyer, Dyer (Butt 63), Jenas, Faye, Shearer, Ameobi (Kluivert 65). Subs Not Used: Harper, Hughes, Robert. Booked: Jenas, Bowyer, O'Brien. Goal: Shearer 9. Attendance: 45,752.
Referee: A D'Urso (Essex).
