Alan Shearer slams Newcastle senior figure for cheating the fans
By Amir Mir
Alan Shearer has slammed Rafa Benitez for “cheating the fan” after Newcastle were knocked out of the FA Cup to League One Oxford on Saturday afternoon.
The Magpies senior figure decided to make nine changes for the cup clash which resulted in his team being thrashed 3-0 at the Kassam Stadium.
This despite Benitez’ side sitting comfortably in second place in the Championship table on 52 points from 27 games.
That leaves them six points clear of third-placed Reading, with a game in hand.
During the half-time break of Manchester United’s FA Cup clash against Wigan, Shearer did not hold back on his assessment of those managers who play weakened teams.
“I think they are cheating the fan [in playing a weakened team],” Shearer told Match of the Day on BBC One.
“Newcastle fans travelled 250 miles down to Oxford yesterday expecting their team to win and he puts a weakened team out.
“Newcastle have got one of the biggest and best teams in the Championship, they are six points clear with a game in hand of third place, so again it is very, very disappointing.”
Issac Hayden and Ayoze Perez were the only two players that kept a starting spot from the team that thrashed Rotherham 4-0 in their previous fixture.
Aleksander Mitrovic was another senior player to have started the game but the striker missed a penalty with the hosts leading 1-0.
Now, Benitez will be hoping his team can pick themselves up straight away when they take on QPR at St James’ Park on Wednesday.
They are two points behind leaders Brighton in the table with the Seagulls playing Huddersfield in their next match after they were knocked out of the FA Cup by non-league Lincoln.
In other Newcastle news, Wolves have made a move to buy this £5million Magpies player.
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