Defender Comes Out Fighting

Justin Whittle has come out fighting following the furore this week over his alleged ‘elbowing’ of Newcastle United’s Alan Shearer.

The Grimsby defender left Shearer needing 3 stitches following a first half ‘coming together’ during the Carling Cup game at Blundell Park.

Whittle told The Sun: ‘There was nothing deliberate in what I did. I have nothing to apologise for and my track record backs me up. We both jumped for the ball. I went with my arms up and caught him in the face and he’s moaned his head off at the referee – he wasn’t happy about it.’

He also says Shearer was on the wind up: ‘Shearer spent the whole of the game trying to wind me up. As you can see from TV Shearer got me early in the match. I just turned around and got on with it. Tough battles are part of the game. It’s my job to defend and I thought I did well against him.’

Seems a bit rich Shearer arguing with a player who did to him what he does to the majority of Premiership opponents really. Always thought Shearer was tough and could take it as well as receive?

Grimsby have backed Whittle with a statement: ‘We feel that there was no deliberate intent on behalf of Justin to catch Alan with his arm.’

Shearer is also now trying to draw a line under the incident: ‘I’m still angry about the incident but I’m not really bothered if anyone wants to have a look at it again. What good would that be to me or Newcastle United? To be honest, I hope nothing happens because I’m not like that. I don’t like to see that going on.’