Recently by Philip Mawson

Stevie G and Joey B - two peas in a pod, right? Well, no. Both are Liverpudlian, professional footballers who have been charged with affray: the difference? One is world class and has led his beloved Liverpool to the European Cup, whereas the other just takes the piss out of Newcastle United.

The CCTV footage of Steven Gerrard assaulting a man in a bar has been released and doesn't differ too greatly from the footage that disgraced Joey Barton and his mates for laying into some bloke. In essence, it's the same difference. However, the reaction to each incident will differ greatly due to one being the best midfielder in the world and the other some half decent player. The word here is hypocrisy.

NEWCASTLE UNITED are back in the relegation zone with only one game left to play after losing 1-0 to Fulham at St. James' Park. United came up against a very well organised Fulham outfit but were desperately unlucky when a controversial refereeing decision ruled out a legitimate equaliser.

Mark Viduka had seemingly levelled the game at 1-1 when he headed home a Danny Guthrie corner but Howard Webb insisted the effort be chalked off due to an apparent obstruction in the penalty area. Replays have since revealed that the Magpies have every right to feel aggrieved by the decision.

Had the goal stood and the game remained tied, Newcastle would be approaching the final fixture of the season against Aston Villa outside the relegation zone and expected to secure Premier League survival. However, after Hull City got a vital point at Bolton, United are now a point adrift and need to better the Tigers result against Manchester United next weekend with at least a draw at Villa Park.

EVENTUALLY Newcastle United have come out of a 'must win' game with three points. Belief has been restored, but relief is only temporary as the Magpies prepare for a home encounter with Fulham on Saturday.

The gallant performance by the players on Monday night was befitting of the splendid St. James' Park atmosphere. United played with courage and despite an early set back, proved to have enough fight and quality to see off a Middlesbrough side set to be playing Championship football next season.

Newcastle were handed a boost before kick off with the inclusion of Steven Taylor in place of the lacklustre Fabricio Coloccini, and the committed Centre Back levelled the game at 1-1 with less than 10 minutes played. A fine corner by Danny Guthrie, whose set pieces were threatening all evening, found the powerful run of Taylor who expertly glanced his header into the far corner; a goal that the man in the dugout would have been proud of.

THERE REMAINS a glimmer of hope that Newcastle United can preserve their Premier League status. Most of that hope depends on Hull City and/or Sunderland dropping points. And, of course, for any of that to even matter, the Magpies need to win football matches.

Hull entertain Stoke City at the KC Stadium on Saturday and if the Tigers were to lose, then three points against Middlesbrough at St. James' Park on Monday night would see United out of the relegation zone. Nevertheless, that is a mighty big 'if,' and should Hull get a result, Newcastle's odds of survival will be lengthened by a country mile before a ball is even kicked.

Newcastle and Middlesbrough can effectively relegate each other in the crunch tie, and a draw would condemn both to the likely fate of playing Championship football next season. It really is all or nothing in a Tyne- Tees derby of colossal consequence.

Another 'must win' has passed without three points but the Magpies must still insist that survival is possible. What is beginning to threaten more than relegation itself, is that Newcastle United will go down without even putting up a fight.

It is out of United's hands, yet, when looking at the fixtures of the other teams around the relegation zone, Middlesbrough, Hull City and Sunderland all have difficult run-ins. Theoretically, six points from the remaining four games could be enough. However, that means winning both your homes games, and that means having to win, which means having to score... So, Newcastle are still well and truly up against it.

Alan Shearer went with the three up front against Portsmouth, and Mark Viduka, Obafemi Martins and Michael Owen were all guilty of missing crucial chances. Owen is (again) telling the nation that if you give him 'the service, he will score,' and that one only has to take a 'look at his record' to see how much of a class act he is. Sounds impressive and his record certainly is, but on Monday night Owen looked distinctly average and like a striker who has failed to score in his last eight league appearances.

IF NEWCASTLE UNITED are to stay up, they need to take maximum points from their remaining home fixtures. This was always going to be the case, but the expression 'must win' has resurfaced and this time it's definitive.

Having rescued a point in the dying moments at Stoke, Alan Shearer decided to persevere with the wingback system at White Hart Lane. Consequently, it was another tepid start by United against Tottenham on Sunday. Come Monday night, a more adventurous Newcastle side needs to take to St. James' Park and overcome Portsmouth.

The team is clearly low on confidence and it is understandable that Shearer may be concerned at how easy Newcastle leak goals, but despite three at the back with two wingbacks and two holding midfielders, a slick passing Spurs side still found gaps in which to penetrate. Newcastle United, almost by tradition, can not successfully absorb pressure; attack really is the best form of defence for the Magpies.

A VITAL goal by Andy Carroll kept Newcastle United's survival hopes alive on Saturday, after Alan Shearer's initial decision to start with Shola Ameobi failed to pay off.

Gateshead- born Carroll rose highest to meet a Damien Duff cross from the left and plant the perfect header back across goal to level the game 1-1 at the Britannia Stadium. The header was Shearer-esque and the question now is whether or not the legendary number nine will start with the young prodigy in United's crucial remaining fixtures.

Carroll appeared as a second half substitute for Ameobi and although news surfaced that Obafemi Martins had pulled out at the last minute, Shearer's team selection still came as a bit of a surprise. Not only his decision to pick the lacklustre Ameobi over the determined Carroll, but also a system employing wingbacks that failed to put pressure on the opposition.

THE CRITICAL period of Alan Shearer's tenure begins on Saturday with a trip to the Britannia Stadium to face fellow relegation battlers Stoke City.

Unfortunately the 'Shearer effect' did not prove enough to inspire the Magpies to adding some much needed bonus points to their desperate Premier League tally against Chelsea at St. James' Park last weekend. The Blues provide a tough game for any team in the world, let alone a Newcastle United side struggling at the wrong end of the table, so it was never considered the most important of the crucial remaining fixtures.

Stoke, on the other hand, is crucial. If United are to stay up, they need to start picking up points no matter how they come. As the cliché acknowledges, this is a results business, and Saturday's opponents know this all to well. Through ugly, physical tactics, the Potters' only real threat is to launch the ball into the box from corners, free kicks and throw ins. Nevertheless, as Tony Pulis will point out, the league table at the end of the season goes in order of points accumulated and pays absolutely no attention to how they were achieved.

United will have to overcome this test. It will be difficult, no doubt, but this is another 'cup final'. To call it 'must win' would be tempting fate; in the likely event United come away with less than that. Perhaps a draw, followed by a win at home against Portsmouth is practical. The reality check is that a team that has only managed to win six of its 31 Premier League games this season (the same as Middlesbrough and West Brom), needs to win at least four of its remaining seven.

AS everyone will know, the spectacular news coming out of St. James' Park is that Alan Shearer will take the reigns until the end of the season.

The appointment of the club legend at some point down the line was inevitable and it has been met with excitement, enthusiasm and optimism. So it should be, after all, for a club that has lost its way, a figure such as Alan Shearer will help reinstall the pride at Newcastle United.

Shearer understands the club and its supporters. The former- captain will be an essential link between the team and its fans. Under the regime of Mike Ashley with Joe Kinnear, Chris Hughton and Colin Calderwood at the helm, the fans have never been so distant from those representing the club. With the ownership failing to recognise what Newcastle United means to its city, fans have been betrayed and insulted and so supporters became keen spectators unable to fully back the hierarchy.

Newcastle United's record goalscorer changes that. There is no doubt that the supporters to a man will be behind Shearer. The atmosphere at St. James' Park on Saturday will be extraordinary and this great club will be united in its fight for survival. Nevertheless, such euphoria is reminiscent of Kevin Keegan's greeting over a year ago.

It was the messiah, now it's the turn of the king. This should be approached with caution. Mike Ashley has appointed the only man who will get an outstanding reception from the Toon fans. In a political sense, Ashley has spared himself backlash if the team does get relegated; after all, he gave the fans the man they wanted. But he should heed warning after his treatment of Keegan, only a fool makes the same mistake twice.

In September 1999, the highly experienced Bobby Robson took charge of a Newcastle team bottom of the league; he guided the team to safety and to an 11th place finish. In January 2008, Keegan returned to take charge of a demoralised, beaten side who were perilously close to the relegation zone; after a turbulent start he managed to guide the team to 12th place. An inexperienced Shearer comes in to a Newcastle side in freefall, currently 18th in the league and with only eight games left to play (including Chelsea at home and Liverpool and Aston Villa away). Even a dream set up of Robson, Keegan and Shearer would be up against it.

For Ashley this is a chance to cover his back. If Shearer was always in his plans he would have, and should have, appointed him earlier.

Ironically, the pressure on the team and its supporters has increased with Shearer's arrival. It is all or nothing. If Newcastle go down with Shearer, be sure that the nation will address Alan Shearer as the man who failed to save Newcastle United from relegation. The nation will be happy to ignore the poor running of the club and enjoy piling the blame on the Magpies cherished number nine. If Shearer pulls off a miracle, Ashley avoids criticism and will be acknowledged as the man who made the telling call.

Nonetheless, this is yet another significant moment to add to the Newcastle United history books. Perhaps it's came too soon in Shearer's career, that said, the biggest club in the world, Barcelona, are led by former player and native Catalan Josep Guardiola, 38 years old and in his first proper managerial role; He was appointed because he understands the club and the region inside out and is doing a fine job, so it can work. Regardless of the boards dubious agendas, Shearer, who exemplified courage and an ability to handle pressure throughout his playing days, is taking a big personal risk for the sake of his football club and will rightly have the backing of all Newcastle fans.

Wigan Athletic chairman Dave Whelan has launched a stifling attack on his Newcastle counterpart.

There is a known history between the two business tycoons, but a lot of what Whelan had to say reflected the disgruntled feeling on Tyneside towards Mike Ashley's running of the club.

Whelan blamed the Newcastle chairman for the Magpies Premier League plight and accused the 'Tottenham supporter' of having no class and damaging Geordie pride.

The Wigan supremo and Newcastle chief have conflicted many times in the retail world with Whelan previously owning JJB Sports and Ashley heading Sports Direct. However, most of Whelan's remarks mimic concerns of Newcastle supporters since Ashley's takeover in June 2007.

"When I first went there just after Mike Ashley had bought it he turned up in the boardroom in a pair of jeans, a pair of trainers and a replica shirt," Whelan explained. "Immediately when he did that, the club's gone."

The Wigan man went on to add: "You don't do things like that in football. He's got no class whatsoever... He's representing Newcastle United who were such a proud club.

"I immediately knew the supporters may want to have a pint with him on the terraces but basically he was not Newcastle through and through. The Newcastle fans know that.

"You can't get a Tottenham fan buying Newcastle and letting people think he supports them.

"It's not right, there's no pride left in the club.

"I think he's got what he deserved. You don't go into a football club as big and proud as that and lower the standards."

It awaits to be seen if Ashley responds to the criticism, although it is unlikely anything will surface from the hierarchy at St. James' Park. Whelan also went on to add that Wigan boss Steve Bruce is interested in a move to a club of Newcastle's stature but would not be willing to work under the current regime.