Crouch cracker puts Shearer in shade

13 April 2012

Alan Shearer moved one step closer to a personal milestone but it was not enough to seal another victory on Newcastle's road to Champions League qualification.

The former England skipper took his Premiership total to 199 with a third-minute goal, but found himself overshadowed by Aston Villa's new £5million signing Peter Crouch. In a classic tale of two strikers, Villa's new boy cancelled out Shearer's early effort with a trademark header to frustrate the high-flying visitors.

Crouch, signed last week from Portsmouth, upstaged the Geordie hero to ensure the battle between two former England managers remained an even one.

But on chances alone, it was Graham Taylor who ended with a moral victory as Villa dominated in terms of chances and can count themselves unfortunate that Shay Given lived up to Mick McCarthy's assessment of him as the best goalkeeper in the Premiership.

The draw left Bobby Robson's side still with an advantage over their closest rivals after a happy Easter.

Not only did Leeds lose both of their matches and Robson's men dish out a six-goal lesson to Everton, but Ipswich's resilience against Chelsea had further gladdened Newcastle hearts.

Robson remained happy enough and said: ' I don't expect to lose any game, but in terms of the Champions League we are now three points ahead of Chelsea with a game in hand.

'They would like to be where we are. In fact, they'd love it. There are no teams in our runin we should be frightened of.

'So as long as we play with commitment and courage, I think we are still favourites.

'Against Villa, it was never going to be easy. Shay Given did play exceptionally well, but we had a chance to nick another goal at the end of each half.

'As for Alan Shearer, even getting anywhere near 200 goals, given the fact he has missed two full seasons through injury, is a great achievement.'

Villa posted enough efforts on the visitors' goal in the first half to win more than one match.

Given pulled off two fingertip stops to deny George Boateng, and Juan Pablo Angel was inches wide with another effort.

Taylor was happy with the performance, if not the points haul, and said: 'I think it was the best 45 minutes we have played since I've been at the club.

'We were a goal down before we had even got started. But we were lively and I think the crowd got a taste of exactly what I'm trying to create here.

'They will go home happy if the performance is right. OK, the result wasn't right but I still think they'll be satisfied.'

They were less than that after just three minutes. Kieron Dyer's wicked cross was headed out to the lurking Laurent Robert on the edge of the area.

The Frenchman chested the ball down before striking a low left-foot drive across Peter Schmeichel that crashed into the upright. Shearer was on hand to slot in the rebound.

Villa stormed back and Given was forced into action by Boateng before the equaliser arrived in the 26th-minute.

Crouch had failed by inches to meet a Thomas Hitzlsperger cross seconds earlier, but when the impressive Gareth Barry tried his luck, the 6ft 6in striker nodded home a debut goal.

Newcastle then had to withstand an onslaught until halftime. The tempo slackened in the second half but picked up towards the end when Ian Taylor went close and Colombian Angel closer still.

But Dyer could have stolen the points had substitute Olivier Bernard been more accurate with his final ball.

That would have been harsh on Villa whose impressive showing is giving their fans a glimpse of a brighter future.

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Alan Shearer

Aston Villa

Kieron Dyer

Newcastle United

UEFA Champions League

Crouch cracker puts Shearer in shade

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