Alan Shearer has branded Newcastle United's 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa 'terrible', saying the team showed no creativity and were too easy to play through. The loss came just days after a 4-1 defeat to Coventry City, leaving the Magpies legend deeply concerned about the season.
Shearer's Verdict on Newcastle's Performance
Speaking on the Rest Is Football podcast, Shearer, who was at St James' Park for the match, criticised the team's display. Newcastle managed just one shot on target, which came from Botman in the second half.
"I look at their performance against Coventry and it was terrible and I was thinking what response have we got? At home, St James' Park against Villa and it was nothing," Shearer said. "They didn't create [anything]. They had one shot on target and it was Botman and it was in the second half and other than that, no creativity, no one with that killer pass, we were terrible."
Concerns Over Team's Response
When fellow hosts Gary Lineker and Micah Richards joked about Shearer's earlier prediction of a Champions League push after a win over Coventry, Shearer responded with an expletive-laden retort. "F--- off, Micah. We were really, really bad," he said. "I did say it was going to be a yo-yo season and I did have them finishing 13th or 14th and I still think that will be the case."
Shearer highlighted the team's inability to respond after the Coventry defeat, describing the performance as "really weak, tepid." He also noted that opponents can easily play through Newcastle's press, leaving "huge holes in the middle."
Call for Sean Steur
Shearer suggested that youngster Sean Steur could provide the killer pass the team lacks, but was not brought on during the match. "I said to you about the youngster Sean Steur, who could play that killer pass. He chose not to bring him on and it was a worrying performance on Saturday," he said.
Newcastle will look to bounce back when they travel to face Crystal Palace on Sunday, a team reeling from a 5-0 defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion.
