Sport

Shearer hits his ton with a double

Alan Shearer wrote himself into the Newcastle annals when he became the ninth player in the club's history to score 100 goals…

Wed Nov 28 2001 - 00:00

Alan Shearer wrote himself into the Newcastle annals when he became the ninth player in the club's history to score 100 goals.

The first-half double Shearer snatched not only took him to three figures but killed off a League Cup tie which had been going his side's way ever since Laurent Robert opened the scoring with 18 minutes gone.

Shola Ameobi, in for Craig Bellamy, who missed out through illness, made it 2-0 eight minutes later as injury-ravaged Ipswich wilted, but it was Shearer who stole the headlines as he benefited from some sterling service from Nolberto Solano to ease his side into the quarter-finals with goals in the 37th and 40th minutes.

Substitute Darren Bent pulled one back for the visitors 13 minutes from time as United took their foot off the gas, but the game was over long before his shot hit the back of Steve Harper's net.

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To their credit, the visitors battled all the way through their third game in six days, but were rarely a match for a Newcastle side which performed significantly better than they did at the weekend.

The visitors defended with two banks of four across the pitch and United had to be patient as they probed for the gaps, but as soon as the first goal went in the floodgates opened.

Rob Lee cut out Matt Holland's pass and, via Solano, fed the ball to Robert, who raced into the box and the ball into the back of the net off Matteo Sereni.

The second arrived in even more style within eight minutes when Gary Speed this time picked out Solano's run and he played Shearer in to cross for Ameobi, who side-footed past the Italian.

Not to be outdone, the skipper helped himself to a double, and it could hardly have been made less difficult by the rampaging Solano. On 37 minutes he delivered the ball with such accuracy Shearer simply had to make contact.

But his contribution to the fourth goal was even more exhilarating as he wriggled his way through the blue shirts to the goal-line to present Shearer with, if possible, an even easier chance.

NEWCASTLE: Harper, Hughes, Elliott, Dabizas, Distin, Solano, Lee, Speed, Robert, Shearer, Ameobi. Subs: Given, O'Brien, Acuna, Bassedas, Lua-Lua.

IPSWICH: Sereni, Wilnis, Makin, McGreal, Hreidarsson, Clapham, Holland, Tommy Miller, Wright, Counago, Armstrong. Subs: Branagan, Naylor, Croft, Darren Bent, Gaardsoe.

Referee: A Wiley (Burntwood)