Alan Shearer, a Newcastle United great, has weighed in on the Magpies’ Champions League defeat to Borussia Dortmund.
Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, the Magpies legend feels that if Newcastle is “honest,” they will “accept they didn’t deserve anything” from the game.
Newcastle suffered their first Champions League defeat of the season on Wednesday night, falling 1-0 to Barcelona at St James’ Park.
Felix Nmecha’s clinical finish in first-half added time clinched the Magpies’ first defeat in nine outings.
Substitute Callum Wilson had a fantastic opportunity to tie the game in the second half, but Gregor Kobel saved brilliantly.
Newcastle were then denied twice late on when Wilson hit the crossbar with a free kick and Anthony Gordon saw a stoppage-time shot bounce off the crossbar.
‘They’ve played pretty well against Newcastle,’ says Shearer.
“You can’t say it was a fluke,” Shearer stated on the BBC Sport website.
“Dortmund got lucky once or twice in the last 10 minutes when it hit the crossbar, but they defended so well.”
“They have played Newcastle and the crowd exceptionally well.” They posed such a threat during the interval.
“If Newcastle are honest then I think they’ll accept they didn’t deserve anything from the game.”
Shearer’s remarks appeared to contradict Eddie Howe’s post-match appraisal.
He told TNT Sport, as reported by BBC Sport, “I don’t think we deserved to lose today.”
In our opinion
I have to agree with Howe’s assessment in this case. Despite Dortmund’s excellent play, Newcastle had three excellent scoring chances.
Wilson was unable to capitalize on his opportunity against Kobel, and the woodwork denied the Magpies striker and Gordon later on.
It’s often about the fine margins in high-level games. If one or two of those had gone in, we’d be celebrating again another incredible Newcastle night in Europe.
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