ALAN Shearer said he was saddened by the chorus of boos which greeted his return to Ewood.

Some Rovers fans still feel angry at the way the 29-year-old quit to join Newcastle in a £15 million deal back in 1996 and they vented their feelings by booing the Newcastle number nine.

"It disappoints me after all I've done for them. It saddens me but that's football and I get that at every away ground," said Shearer.

"Tony Parkes told them in the media not to wind me up because they knew what they'd get and thankfully I've done it.

"But there's still a long way to go and we don't want to get carried away.

"We've got Tranmere in the next round and that's going to be very, very difficult."

Meanwhile, Newcastle boss Bobby Robson hailed striker Alan Shearer after he sank Rovers with a brace at Ewood last night.

The England captain scored the 249th and 250th goals of his domestic career to take his tally for the season to 25 and book the Magpies a tie with Tranmere in the sixth round.

"He's written the script and it's been a good night for him," said Robson.

"He thoroughly deserved the man-of-the-match award for his performance. "He took the first goal cleverly, like a good player can.

"And the second, he broke his neck, not literally, but to get to the back post.

"I thought he played with a lot of passion and a lot of intelligence.

"And he was magnificent again like he has been since I've been here."

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