The Premiership's all-time leading gunslingers Alan Shearer and Andy Cole were matched up at St James' Park yesterday.

The paths both strikers have taken in their respective careers has been well documented and none more so than the consequences of Shearer's decision to ply his trade on Tyneside instead of Lancashire when leaving Blackburn Rovers eight-and-a half years ago.

Whether Cole's career at Old Trafford would have glittered as brightly had United's number nine signed for Alex Ferguson in July 1996 is open to conjecture, but what is clear, is that both players have shone since the introduction of the Premiership 12 years ago.

Nottingham-born Cole was worshiped on Tyneside before his transfer to the north west, and rightly so, given he broke legend Hughie Gallagher's 68 year-old goalscoring record in the 1993-94 season; added to the 68 goals netted in 83 appearances of course.

But an unwarranted sing-a-long diatribe towards his former boss Kevin Keegan was caught on camera at the 1996 FA Cup Final, and ensured any return to St James' Park would not be a welcome one.

Certainly the ten goals in 14 games Cole has scored against his old club since he was controversially transferred by Keegan to rivals Manchester United in 1995, for a then transfer record of £7m has not made the relationship any easier neither.

When Cole has managed to forge an understanding with another team-mate he has always flourished as a striker.

In his time at St James' Park he formed a formidable partnership with Peter Beardsley before finally finding his feet with Dwight Yorke at Old Traffotf after several stuttering partnerships. Graeme Souness reunited the pair at Blackburn in his time as manager at Ewood Park but unfortunately they failed to recreate anything like the success they had enjoyed before.

Yesterday, Cole played up front alone but it was he who went home the happier of the pair and despite not adding to his five goals this season, was central to his side's victory.

Indeed it was Cole's clever dummy which allowed Collins John to run through and open the score on the half hour. The 33-year-old was again tormentor-in-chief for his side's second goal when he seized upon Andy O'Brien's slip to slide the ball across the box for Steed Malbranque to thump home on 65 minutes. Cole then made a nuisance of himself in his side's fourth goal.

Shearer's phenomenal goalscoring record speaks for itself and it is little wonder Souness is trying to persuade his inspirational skipper to shelve his retirement plans, given the influence he has on a game.

Like Manchester United's Roy Keane, Shearer was not blessed with the God-given talent of a George Best or Paul Gascoigne. But what they both lack in flair, skill and natural ability, is made up in abundance with commitment, effort and an unswerving belief that they are the best in their given position.

Ask any football writer worth his salt, or footballer, ex or otherwise, and they will tell you that both players were world class performers at one stage of their careers.

Had injury not robbed the United legend of his explosive turn of pace, which made him one of the most feared strikers in not only Europe, but the world, who knows how many more goals he would have plundered.

The fact he has bounced back from two career-threatening injuries speaks volumes for not only his character and resolve, but more importantly, his ability as a striker. Despite experts or pundits perpetually writing Shearer off as a spent force he still leads Cole in the all-time Premiership table by 79 Premiership goals. Remarkable when you consider he has missed two seasons of football.

The Magpies striker, who once again lined up alongside Patrick Kliuvert while his usual strike partner Craig Bellamy played on the left of midfield, endured a frustrating time on Sunday.

A shove in the back was missed by referee Howard Webb and it led to Fulham's opening goal before the 34-year-old striker then suffered the ignominy of having a penalty appeal turned down when blatantly pushed in the back two minutes later.

Shearer suffered more torment five minutes after the break when played in by a beautiful slide-rule pass from Kliuvert, only to see his goal bound shot blocked by Zat Knight.

After that Shearer could only watch helplessly as Fulham soaked up a barrage of intense pressure to produce the classic smash and grab performance.

Both strikers might have been shooting blanks yesterday but it was Cole who had the upper hand as he supplied a few bullets in his team's 4-1 victory.

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