Shearer backing United to be champs
ALAN Shearer is backing Newcastle United to come out on top in the Tees-Tyne derby – and go on and win the Championship.
Chris Hughton's in-form side take on Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday with an eight-point advantage at the top of the division.
And club legend Shearer – who presented promising South Tyneside footballer Remie Streete with the inaugural Jack Hixon award at Sport Newcastle's annual dinner last night – is confident his beloved club will come out on top in the season's only north east derby.
"It's always a big game," Shearer told the Gazette. "The biggest one's Newcastle-Sunderland, but the one after that is against Middlesbrough.
"It's just a game you don't want to lose – there's local pride at stake once again.
"Newcastle will go into the game as favourites, and so they should because they've been magnificent this season. They're doing great, and I don't think you can expect any more.
"Chris Hughton is doing a magnificent job, and they look like they are going to go up at the first attempt.
"Then the questions start again, but as I say nobody can ask any more of them."
Newcastle's 6-1 hammering of Barnsley on Saturday was watched by more than 44,000 fans, and Shearer, a regular at St James's Park this season, isn't surprised at the backing Hughton's team have had in the wake of relegation.
"It shouldn't really be a surprise to anybody, but to be getting 44,000 in the Championship for every game is staggering," added Shearer.
"It's unbelievable, but that is the way they are. They're just brilliant."
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Weather for South Shields
Saturday 11 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 2 C to 4 C
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