IT was Margaret Thatcher who famously said 'this lady's not for turning'.

And when it comes to talk of his impending retirement, Alan Shearer appears to have taken a leaf out of the Iron Lady's book.

Despite his manager's public pleading, which, at times, has almost verged on begging, the Magpies' captain is adamant he will be hanging up his boots at the end of the season.

Talk of whether he can be convinced to play on is clearly becoming tiresome for 34-year-old as was evident at the end of Saturday's 1-0 victory over Liverpool, a win which lifted Graeme Souness' men up to 11th in the table and meant they had now won on each of their last five outings.

Asked if games against the likes of Liverpool might make him reconsider, Shearer retorted: "I have said it all week, I am not going to go into it again, how many times do I have to say it?"

If that was to be his final game against the Reds, Shearer certainly made sure it was a memorable one. Though he didn't get on the scoresheet, Laurent Robert grabbing that honour, the No.9 ensured Rafael Benitez's side had an uncomfortable afternoon in the final third of the pitch.

He chased and harried, ran at defenders and got close enough to them on occasions to swap DNA.

Mauricio Pellegrino, for one, won't forget his meeting with the former England striker. No quarter asked or given, it was Shearer who drew the challenge from the Italian which led to the free-kick from which Robert beat debutant keeper Scott Carson 20 minutes from time.

Shearer said: "I think that's the way football should be played, when you give as good as you get and you shake hands at the end of the day.

"It was a great battle by everyone in tough conditions on a tough pitch."

It's been just a few short weeks since the fans and the media were on Souness' back, but such is the fickle game that is football that after talking to Shearer you'd hardly think the club had been so far in the mire.

"Five wins on the spin and confidence, obviously, is very high, we have to keep it going now," said Shearer. "It was a big win for us, it wasn't pretty at times but I think in the second half we thoroughly deserved it.

"There wasn't much at either end in the box but Laurent produced a piece of magic just when we needed it."

Asked if the players were now expecting to go out and win games, Shearer replied: "If I say yes, it means beforehand we weren't. Confidence is a huge thing in football. It really is. The only way to get that is by playing well and getting results. We are doing that, it's good, the fans are happy, we are all happy."

In recent games, the Magpies have managed to iron out defensive frailties which have seen them throw away narrow leads on a regular basis.

So can Newcastle now rely on a single goal to garner three points?

"When we defend like that we can, yeah," said Shearer. "That's why the big teams stay at the top of the league, because they can win games 1-0 when it's not quite happening for them.

"They know if they get one they can rely on their back players. To be fair to the back players for the last six or seven games we have been able to rely on them and that's been a big difference.

"They have been magnificent - Titus (Bramble), Boumsong, Stephen Carr, (Celestine) Babayaro when he has played and Aaron (Hughes). This was well worked and well defended."

Shearer singled out Bramble for particular praise.

"The last five or six games he has been absolutely magnificent. It's no coincidence that we have started winning games," he said.

"They look as if they are having a good time there at the back; they have a good relationship going on and they are playing as a good partnership. Not much is getting past them."

Shearer is realistic enough to know this good run of form may be too little, too late as far as the league is concerned, but he isn't ready to throw in the towel yet.

"We have got to keep this going," he said. "We believe we can go far in the cups.

"We have got to keep on winning. We are relying on other people, unfortunately, to help us out in the league but if we keep on winning we will keep on climbing the table.

"Come the end of the season, who knows where we will finish."

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