Interim Newcastle boss Alan Shearer was annoyed his side did not show any urgency until the second half of the 1-0 defeat at Tottenham. "I've just said to them, very pleased with the second half but give me an explanation why there's no urgency like that from minute one," Shearer said.

"We have our own ideas, our own theory as to why but we have to start games in the first minute like we finish them in the last 30 minutes."

Newcastle face Portsmouth, Middlesbrough and Fulham at St James' Park, and Shearer agreed they have to win all three of them.

He said: "We'll be expected to win those and we have to win those starting with next Monday against Portsmouth. My attention is now on that must-win game."

"I've asked them for a reaction at half-time and they gave me it," he added.

"Effort wise I've got no complaints. You've seen the urgency, you've seen spark and belief that they can pass it around. I want to see that for 90 minutes. Then we'll have the chance of taking three points instead of one or none.

"I still believe we have got enough."

Newcastle also had a good shout for a penalty turned down.

"I felt at the time it was a penalty," Shearer said. "That's three decisions we haven't got in three games."