ALAN SHEARER SLAMS 'ROTTEN, PATHETIC' NEWCASTLE AS EDDIE HOWE'S SUNDERLAND CALLS DUG OUT

Newcastle United were beaten 1-0 by Sunderland at the Stadium of Light in their crunch Premier League showdown, and Alan Shearer has hammered his beloved side for their display

Newcastle United striker Alan Shearer has blasted the Magpies performance against Sunderland

Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer has absolutely hammered the Magpies following their defeat to arch-rivals Sunderland. The Magpies' all-time leading goalscorer said his former side were rotten, pathetic, dreadful, and almost ran out of superlatives to describe the Wear-Tyne Derby defeat.

A Nick Woltemade own goal was all that separated the two sides, but it was a poor game that lacked any attacking intent from either side.

Shearer singled out Anthony Elanga and Anthony Gordon for their poor displays and felt that Eddie Howe got his team selection wrong.

Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, Shearer said: "I wasn't [okay]. Newcastle were dreadful.

"They were rotten and I was really shocked at how dreadful they were because, I mean, that is pathetic in any game, let alone in a derby game.

"Seriously, you're going to play in the biggest game of the season at your rivals and you've heard all the players all week, 'We know how much it means to the fans and we're going to do this and that.' Well, lads, they did nothing. They were awful, honestly."

Newcastle United's Nick Woltemade scored the decisive goal in the wrong end against Sunderland(Image: Getty Images)

Newcastle have won just once away in the Premier League all season, and Shearer didn't hold back in his criticism of the Newcastle manager either, adding: "Eddie made some big calls team-wise, and I thought Eddie got it wrong as well.

"The players who he picked didn't perform for him. Elanga was awful. Gordon was awful. Woltemade was awful. They offered nothing in forward positions."

Shearer got fed up with Gary Lineker and Micah Richards sniggering on the podcast, as he hit out: "Stop laughing you two d********s. You pair of... I wish I could say that word I'd call you that now."

The Newcastle icon then continued: "There was no desire, there was no energy, there was nothing. You go away to Sunderland, and who aren't a great team, and after half an hour, Sunderland had about 70 per cent possession, as if.

"I was thinking, 'Am I missing something here, are we going away to Arsenal or Man City here?'

Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe got some decisions wrong at the Stadium of Light(Image: PA)

"We're going away to Sunderland. Okay, they're hard to beat at home. They're really well organized and they're above us in the table but come on, they're not Barcelona or Real Madrid.

"Are we going to have a pop at them or have a go at least? There was nothing from Newcastle. It was really, really awful."

When asked by Richards if Sunderland could get a bit of credit, Shearer said: "Yeah, they deserved to win. They were up for the fight.

"They had the energy, they won every second ball. They won every challenge. Well done, yeah. Newcastle were terrible."

- Matty Hewitt

GERMANY 'SEND MESSAGE' WITH 6-0 SLOVAKIA ROUT TO REACH 2026 WORLD CUP

Germany have laboured past underdog opponents in this campaign but were 4-0 up at half-time and humming in Leipzig.

Leroy Sane struck twice and Nick Woltemade scored for the third straight Germany game.© X 

Germany captain Joshua Kimmich said his side "wanted to send a message" with Monday's 6-0 thumping of Slovakia in Leipzig which sealed their progress to the 2026 World Cup. Leroy Sane struck twice and Nick Woltemade scored for the third straight Germany. The win put Germany through atop Group A and into next year's tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Slovakia finished second and will go into a play-off. "Everyone wanted to send a message today. Everyone knew what was at stake," Kimmich told Germany's ZDF. "In Germany, we're not used to it being difficult to qualify -- that's why I'm very happy with how we played."

Germany have laboured past underdog opponents in this campaign but were 4-0 up at half-time and humming in Leipzig.

Woltemade continued his golden run with the opening goal after 18 minutes. Serge Gnabry added the second 11 minutes later. 

Under pressure Liverpool midfielder Florian Wirtz sparked to life late in the first half, laying on two goals for Sane in five minutes. 

Ridle Baku and debutant Assan Ouedraogo scored in the second half.

"We're relieved. It's a great moment," Woltemade said. "I'm playing, I'm scoring goals and I'm hopefully playing at the World Cup."

"Tonight we showed the quality we have in this team. It was a pleasure," Woltemade, 23, added. 

Germany's win also guarantees the four-time World Cup winners a high seeding that should protect them from an early clash with another of the tournament's big guns. 

"Every player played well today and worked like a dog," coach Julian Nagelsmann said. 

"We showed incredible team spirit and pushed ourselves on the pitch from the very beginning." 

Fifth straight victory

The nature of Germany's fifth straight victory puts a glowing finish on a solid but unimpressive qualifying campaign. 

Germany have been efficient but rarely impressive and needed to avoid defeat on Monday to top their group and qualify directly.

Slovakia had dominated Germany to win 2-0 in the reverse fixture, their first ever competitive victory over the European giants.

Nagelsmann will be buoyed by the performance under pressure while several injured starters will make their way back in the coming months, including Kai Havertz, Jamal Musiala, Antonio Rudiger and Marc-Andre ter Stegen. 

The Germans helped quell the butterflies when Woltemade headed in to break through with 18 minutes gone. 

The strike meant the Newcastle striker had scored Germany's past four goals over three games.

After Slovakia's Michal Duris forced a fingertip save from Germany's Oliver Baumann, Gnabry put the fans in party mood with 29 minutes gone, guiding the ball home to double Germany's lead. 

Wirtz then found Sane with two pinpoint passes to put Germany four up at the break. 

Nagelsmannn took off captain Joshua Kimmich with Germany well in control and his replacement Baku had an immediate impact, blasting in a Gnabry pass two minutes after coming on. 

The Germany coach bought on teenager Ouedraogo with 15 minutes remaining and the RB Leipzig midfielder added a goal and celebrated in front of his home fans.

- Agence France-Presse

EDDIE HOWE: MY RELATIONSHIP WITH ALEXANDER ISAK CHANGED ONCE HE WENT ON STRIKE

The 25-year-old missed the club’s pre-season tour to Singapore and South Korea and was left training by himself on the squad’s return before eventually getting his wish with a deadline day move to Anfield.

HOWE TIMES HAVE CHANGED: Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe has revealed his relationship with striker Alexander Isak broke down after the player went on strike (John Walton/PA)

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has admitted his relationship with Alexander Isak became “difficult” after he went on strike in an attempt to force through his move to Liverpool.

The 25-year-old Sweden international missed the club’s pre-season tour to Singapore and South Korea and was left training by himself on the squad’s return before eventually getting his wish with a deadline day move to Anfield which netted the Magpies £130million.

Asked about his relationship with the man he signed from Real Sociedad for £63million during the summer of 2022, head coach Howe said: “Alex and I always enjoyed a great relationship. I loved working with him and I hope he loved working with us.

“It was mutually beneficial. We helped him become the player that he in part is today, and he helped us as a team achieve some unbelievable milestones. He was part of a very successful team.

“But to give you a bit more on that, the moment he went on strike, our relationship did change. I think that was probably a turning point in our relationship. Communication became difficult from that point onwards. I won’t go into any more detail than that.”

Isak’s departure prompted Newcastle to invest £69m in VfL Stuttgart’s Nick Woltemade and Brentford’s Yoane Wissa, who cost them £55m, and the former could make his debut against Wolves on Saturday.

However, Wissa will not be involved after returning from international duty with DR Congo with a knee injury which could also rule him out of Thursday night’s Champions League opener against Barcelona.

"The moment he went on strike, our relationship did change"

Asked if the 29-year-old would be available for the Premier League fixture, Howe said: “Unfortunately not, no, so he won’t make this game.

“I saw him for the first time yesterday, he’s feeling the effects of the injury he sustained just before he came off, so we’re going to have to see how he is.”

Asked further about the severity of Wissa’s problem, Howe added: “I don’t know currently as I sit here. I think he’ll go away for tests and maybe see a specialist to see.”

Woltemade could get his first taste of St James’ Park on Saturday, and Howe has called for patience as the 23-year-old Germany international attempts to plug a sizeable gap.

Newcastle new boy Jacob Ramsey is facing a month on the sidelines (Nigel French/PA)

Howe said: “I think it would have been impossible to have replaced Alex like-for-like. There’s no other player like Alex, he was totally unique. He had his qualities and I think it’s important we don’t compare whoever we bring in to Alex, because I think that’s very difficult to do.

“I think each player that comes in is an individual in their own right and has their own strengths and weaknesses. There will be a process where we have to mould ourselves to them, and vice-versa.”

Wissa’s absence, coupled with that of fellow summer arrival Jacob Ramsey, who will be sidelined until after the October international break with an ankle injury, represents a significant blow to Howe, who is already without the suspended Anthony Gordon.

- DAMIAN SPELLMAN, PA