MIKE Whitlow claimed today that Alan Shearer "played the referee a treat" when he coaxed David Elleray into awarding the free kick that rocked Wanderers in the heat of Saturday's Premiership points tussle at St James' Park.
The former England captain was under fire for appearing to influence the Harrow housemaster into penalising Jussi Jaaskelainen for failing to release the ball inside the six-second limit.
Leading 1-0 through a Ricardo Gardner goal four minutes earlier, the game was turned on its head when Shearer equalised from the resulting free kick teed up by Nolberto Solano. And although Nicky Southall fired them ahead a second time, Newcastle hit back with Shearer and strike partner Craig Bellamy heading the goals that left Wanderers rooted in the relegation zone without a win in 12 games.
Seething Sam Allardyce reserved judgment on Shearer's part in the matter insisting: "I'll have to see the video first." But he put the controversial ref - described by telly pundit Andy Townsend as "a nit-picker" - on notice when he said: "If someone as experienced as David Elleray is influenced by Alan Shearer, it's a great shame." Then he asked pointedly: "Would it have happened the other way?"
Whitlow was in no doubt, however.
"Shearer's clever," the seasoned defender acknowledged. "He's been in the game a long time and he's played the referee a treat and got a just reward for being clever.
"The gaffer's said it to us sometimes: 'Learn ... be clever!' Shearer did that and we've got punished and it's not nice. Jussi's even got booked for running after the ref."
Jaaskelainen, who was sent off for handling the ball outside his area under pressure from Shearer before Newcastle coasted to a 4-0 win at the Reebok in October, was too upset to comment on the matter after the game.
But Mr Elleray insisted he was only following the letter of the law: "The rules are that a player is given six seconds to release the ball into play and I counted a good nine and the goalkeeper hadn't brought the ball into play."
Wanderers argued however, that the keeper was hampered by Shearer from making the clearance. "Jussi couldn't kick it out because he had a few men standing in front of him," Southall said. "So what was he going to do ... boot the ball at Alan Shearer? That means he gets booked. So really Jussi was in a Catch 22 situation."
Allardyce was ultimately more upset by the overall defending that again proved costly but still saw the unusual decision as decisive with Bellamy's matchwinner coming just 11 minutes from time.
"I haven't seen one given all season in any division and we probably won't see one again," the manager claimed.
"And even though we had it timed at nine seconds Jussi's saying that he has not been allowed to distribute the ball how he wanted, by kicking it up the field. It appears David (Elleray) has said he had the opportunity to throw it but surely when a goalkeeper has only six seconds to distribute the ball, all options should be left open to him.
"And if all options are denied then it's a free kick in our favour and not in theirs."
Magpies' boss Bobby Robson said Elleray got it right and blamed Jaaskelainen.
"It's very rare but I've often warned that it would happen and that goalkeepers have to beware," he said.
"There is a limit and they abuse it and he's got caught.
"I'm sorry for their manager and the club but there it is."
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