Shearer: I wanted revenge

Alan Shearer claims he wanted to 'stick one on' Grimsby's Justin Whittle.

Alan Shearer was spitting blood, literally, after claiming he wanted to "do" Grimsby Town captain Justin Whittle during the Carling Cup tie at Blundell Park.

The Newcastle United skipper was caught by a blatant elbow from the central defender during his side's 1-0 success as Shearer claimed an 80th minute winner for Graeme Souness's Magpies.

It left the former England striker needing three stitches in a facial wound at half time and puzzled as to why referee Mark Halsey failed to act on the offence, even though he had a clear view of it.

"Winning is the most important thing," he told Sky Sports. "I think it would be easy for me to go out there and stick one on him.

"That's what I wanted to do but the easiest way is to answer them in goals and come away with victory, that's what I've done.

"I am unhappy. He's done me. It's blatant. I know he's done it and the referee is five yards off me and hasn't done anything.

"That's life. It's a hard game is football, you've got to look after yourselves out there and I've done that for a number of years but I've been done tonight.

"That's the best way to answer it. As much as I'd like to go out and do him, as I know he's done me, it's a coward's way.

"The best way is to answer that in goals and I've done that.

"It was never going to be easy coming here. They knocked Spurs out in the previous round and that was a reminder if we needed it. To be fair, we rolled our sleeves up, battled and never gave them a sniff.

"Spurs were knocked out, Liverpool are out and there are one or two others out tonight but certainly we've got a chance.

"We've only got two chances to win a trophy this year and this is one of them."

Whittle appeared to be offering Shearer outside at the final whistle if he wanted to continue the debate but the Magpies captain managed to keep his cool.