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Toon stars must believe - Shearer
Newcastle United, 09:51, April 27, 2009 ,
Alan Shearer has told his Newcastle players they must step up to the plate in the relegation battle when Portsmouth visit on Monday.
The Magpies' highest ever goalscorer returned to St James' Park with eight games remaining in an effort to keep the club in the Premier League. However Shearer is still looking for that elusive first win after two defeats and a draw in his first three games in charge which has left the club four points adrift of safety with five left to play.
Shearer has always stressed that the club must win their final three home games - starting with Monday's visit of Pompey - to have any chance of survival. Therefore he is calling on his players to show they can cope with the pressure and secure a much-needed three points given that their next game is at Liverpool next weekend.
Shearer said: "There's no time is there? I am looking at myself, at how I can improve the team, or how we can start creating more chances to score more goals?
"Iain (Dowie) has been in this position too so it's nice to have him alongside me, but it is just a matter of trying to get the players to believe in themselves.
"It's been tough, but now we have a home game we are expected to win and I want the players to show the ability they have.
"The characters are there and now they need to show their character in front of 52,000 screaming fans."
Punters who feel Shearer is the man to save Newcastle from relegation can use a £10 free bet to back him to pick up his first managerial win on Monday.