NEWCASTLE captain Alan Shearer condemned his side's "sloppy" and "silly" defending as their London jinx prevailed at Craven Cottage.

The Magpies' last win in the capital was against Crystal Palace nearly four years ago, and they have since failed to record a victory in 27 London visits.

But Shearer, whose misery was compounded when Fulham goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar saved his 79th-minute penalty, insisted United's problems lay in defence.

Left-back Robbie Elliott was at fault for Fulham's first two strikes, and Shearer said: "They were sloppy goals from our point of view and it was silly defending.

"I thought we'd got back into it at 2-1 and then we gave another sloppy goal away which effectively ended it.

"It might have made a difference if I'd then put the penalty in, but the third goal was a killer for us really.

"I didn't think we should have had a penalty in the first place, but we should have had one when I was brought down straight after the keeper had made the save.''

Former Newcastle loanee Louis Saha, who had a six-month spell on Tyneside three seasons ago, was the Magpies' tormentor-in-chief, scoring the opening goal and earning the man-of-the-match plaudits.

"He's definitely improved since he was at Newcastle,'' said Shearer. "He's comfortable on the ball and can score goals.

"He was very young and inexperienced when he was with us, but he's turned out to be a very good player.

"I thought he had ability when he was with us, but perhaps that wasn't the right time for him to be at Newcastle because of the players we already had.

"He wanted my shirt at the end and I gave it to him. He scored a great goal and I got on well with him at Newcastle.''

Saha admitted: "It was a special game for me, but there wasn't really any extra incentive because it was Newcastle.

"This was maybe my favourite goal and it was very special to score against Alan. I had a good time at Newcastle.''

Meanwhile, Shearer is likely to escape a club fine despite being booked for dissent - but Laurent Robert might not be so lucky. Bobby Robson felt his skipper was justified in complaining about the inconsistency of referee Eddie Wolstenholme, who booked six players - all from Newcastle.

But Robert, cautioned for making imaginary spectacles in the direction of a linesman, could fall foul of Robson's strict disciplinary code.

Robson said: "I don't know why Robert was booked, but I'll look into that because it's something I don't like and it's unnecessary.

"But I can understand Alan because what he was saying to the referee was right.

"There were two fouls against us in front of him which he let go and then we committed one where he awarded Fulham a free-kick."