His winning goal was his 250th league strike, all of which have been achieved in the top flight, and takes him within one of Len White who is second in United’s all-time top scorers list.
While the scoring exploits of historical figures such as Dixie Dean and Jimmy Greaves may be well out of reach, a quick look at the facts confirms that Shearer is the greatest goalscorer of his generation.
Shearer’s career stats
250 league goals in 445 starts and 23 sub appearances
115 league goals in 208 starts and 5 sub appearances for Newcastle United
112 league goals in 132 starts and 6 sub appearances for Blackburn Rovers
23 league goals in 105 starts and 13 sub appearances for Southampton
152 Newcastle United goals in 274 starts and 5 sub appearances
30 goals in 63 England appearances
Premiership leading scorers
Alan Shearer – 227 goals at 0.65 goals per game
Andy Cole – 159 goals at 0.51 goals per game
Les Ferdinand – 138 goals at 0.44 goals per game
Robbie Fowler – 136 goals at 0.48 goals per game
Teddy Sheringham – 136 goals at 0.39 goals per game
Dwight Yorke – 117 goals at 0.37 goals per game
Ian Wright – 113 goals at 0.53 goals per game
Michael Owen – 109 goals at 0.56 goals per game
Dion Dublin – 108 goals at 0.37 goals per game
Matt Le Tissier – 101goals at 0.37 goals per game
All time Newcastle United top scorers
200 Jackie Milburn
153 Len White
152 Alan Shearer
143 Hughie Gallacher
121 Malcolm MacDonald
119 Peter Beardsley
113 Bobby Mitchell
113 Tom McDonald
101 Neil Harris
97 Bryan Robson
All time England top scorers
49 Bobby Charlton (106 caps)
48 Gary Lineker (80 caps)
44 Jimmy Greaves (57 caps)
30 Tom Finney (76 caps)
30 Nat Lofthouse (33 caps)
30 Alan Shearer (63 caps)
29 Vivian Woodward (23 caps)
28 Steve Bloomer (23 caps)
27 David Platt (62 caps)
26 Bryan Robson (90 caps)