There was a noted lack of commitment on a night when there was so much at stake, as Portsmouth finished the game with Newcastle pinned back in their own half.If any side was going to win ... it was Portsmouth ... and THAT was why the boos cascaded around St James' Park.
Shearer says his players put in the effort, but they let him down second-half.
Shearer's frustration was there for all to see as his fourth game in charge yielded just a second point.
Newcastle remain three points from safety and need a rousing finish to the season to overhaul either Hull or Sunderland and fend off the advances of West Brom and Middlesbrough below them.
Shearer was putting on a brave face as he started preparations for the Liverpool game, a side who won 5-1 at SJP earlier in the season.
Alan Shearer: "Everybody will write us off for Liverpool, and I understand that, but we will go there prepared and see what happens.
"They are going for the title and they are under pressure too. I saw them at Hull [on Saturday]. They didn't play particularly well, but won the game.
"You never know in football. We will not give up."