Alan Shearer admitted that Newcastle United got what they deserved as they went down to a dismal 2-0 defeat by Liverpool at Anfield yesterday.
Minutes after former Liverpool hardman and skipper Tommy Smith told me it was probably the worst United team he had ever seen, a grim-faced Shearer emerged from the visiting dressing room.
And while several of his colleagues refused to talk to the media, true-to-form Shearer did not shirk his responsibilities and he pulled no punches.
He told me: "It was a bad day at the office and we got what we deserved. Right from the first minute Liverpool were a lot better than us.
"They were quicker, brighter and sharper and the 2-0 scoreline flattered us in the end, and while we did not give up, we know it could have been or one two more.
But we have no complaints and we cannot say anything different to that. So as much as it hurts, you have to come off a football field and sometimes say the opposition were better than us and that was the case today. You just have to be big enough to admit it and say it."
In a way I am glad Shearer did not get the goal which would have seen him equal Jackie Milburn's record of 200 for the club because really it would have been a bit meaningless on a day when United were nothing sort of abysmal.
However he added: "I thought I had scored in the second half as my shot was going in but it hit Jean Alain Boumsong. That and the sending off capped a miserable day for us."
Not surprisingly Shearer was in no mood to talk about any records but he is fully aware that he scored his 200th Premiership goal against tomorrow's opponents at St James' Park in 2001.
Meanwhile Lee Bowyer's fourth red card for United - he was sent off in the corresponding game last season, at Heerenveen and in the infamous incident against Aston Villa, means that he will miss tomorrow's game with his former club at St James' Park tomorrow night.
But Charlton will be without Danny Murphy after he was sent off against Arsenal and he will be a bigger miss to the Londoners than Bowyer will be to United.
However ,at least United will welcome back another former Charlton player Scott Parker after the England international has completed his second ban since he arrived at St James' Park in the summer.
