Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer singled out goalscorers Fabian Schar and Ayoze Perez for praise after his old team beat Cardiff City 3-0 on Saturday.
The Swiss defender shocked many spectators by netting once in either half to put the hosts in control at St James’ Park, before Perez put the game to bed at the death.
It was a vital victory for Newcastle over a relegation rival, particularly considering fellow basement dwellers Southampton also picked up three points against Everton.
Shearer delivered his verdict on the game straight after the final whistle, and highlighted the Magpies duo in the process.
“A HUGE win for Newcastle. Well done Fabian Schar and Ayoze Perez,” he said on his personal Twitter account.
OPINION
Shearer is absolutely right, this was a massive result for the Magpies. Rafael Benitez’s side knew the onus was on them, as the home side, to go out and chase the victory on Saturday and that’s what they ended up doing. Their goals, in the end, came from unlikely sources in centre back Schar and a player in Perez who hasn’t been in the best of form this campaign. Cardiff and Newcastle will both likely be there or thereabouts down the bottom come the end of the season, but Newcastle took a big step in the right direction with this win. Schar was the star of the show for Benitez’s team. He made something happen when there was little going on in the first half, striding out from the back, beating several Cardiff players and then slotting the ball home – it was an exceptional goal. He deserves all the plaudits because he was tremendous, but this was very much a team victory.
