AS protestations of innocence go, Alan Shearer's appears 100 per cent genuine.

Any striker who boasts a highly successful 14-year professional career based on physical strength, power and pace can expect to land himself in the referee's notebook on the odd occasion.

But for a striker a red card is still a rare occurrence, and Alan Shearer now has two to his name - both while wearing the black and white of Newcastle.

The former England skipper is not known for a dodgy temperament; true, he always stands his ground and is not averse to a word or two to the man in black, but vindictiveness is not something immediately associated with the man whose goals last week took him to the 100 mark for the Magpies.

There have been controversial moments in his career - notably the incident with Neil Lennon when a mistimed swing with the right boot caused ructions leading up to the 1998 World Cup in France.

But he now stands accused of deliberately elbowing an opponent - an offence for which the man himself pleads innocent.

There were just three minutes left on the clock when a high ball came down towards the skipper standing just inside the Charlton half.

There appeared to be contact with Jon Fortune and the assistant referee's flag was raised immediately.

A consultation with referee Andy D'Urso and a disbelieving Shearer was on his way.

As if standing in the witness box, Shearer's declaration was a 'not guilty your honour'.

Speaking after the game he said: "I categorically deny using my elbow deliberately.

"When I ws a kid at 16 or 17 at Southampton I was taught to arch my back to protect the ball "Bobby Robson was still teaching me that last week - if something has changed in the game then I am not aware of it."

An appeal has already been launched through the media, and an official one will no doubt be landing on the doormat at Lancaster Gate this morning.

"I've asked the referee honestly to look at it again and rectify what was the linesman's (assistant referee's) mistake - not his," said Shearer.

"I hope the referee can save me from a three-match ban - I don't deserve it, I really don't."

The dismissal is Shearer's second in his career, the first against Aston Villa during the last days of Ruud Gullitt's ill-fated reign. That was on opening day of the 1999-2000 season when Uriah Rennie controversially red-carded him for persistent foul play, and, as then, incredulity was etched on Shearer's face when Andy D'Urso brandished the red card.

"I feel hard done by by both of them," said Shearer.

"I couldn't believe it when the red card came out. I was protecting the ball which is my job up front and he sent me off - I feel very hard done by. "I only hope he (the referee) doesn't stick by it this time because it is an incorrect decision."

Football Association spokesman Adrian Bevington last night confirmed that, if United do lodge an appeal, D'Urso could be asked to have another look at the incident.

''Newcastle do have a right of appeal because Alan Shearer did receive a red card and a straight dismissal,'' Bevington said ''There is a standard procedure.

"If Newcastle inform us that they wish to appeal we will then have a discussion, and the referee will be offered the opportunity to look at it again.''

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