Under-fire Grimsby defender Justin Whittle has told Alan Shearer to stop moaning about the challenge that left the Newcastle skipper needing three stitches in his lip.

The pair clashed in the first half of Wednesday night's game and, while Whittle appeared to deliberately elbow Shearer in the head, referee Mark Halsey took no action.

A clearly incensed Shearer rounded on his opponent after the match, claiming Whittle had "done him" and that he "desperately wanted to do him back".

But the Grimsby skipper has subsequently denied any wrongdoing and insisted he too was on the receiving end of some questionable challenges.

"We both jumped for the ball," said Whittle. "I've gone with my arms up and caught him in the face and he's moaned his head off at the referee. He wasn't happy about it.

"Earlier on he caught me in the face and I just turned around and got on with it.

"It's just one of those things - tough battles are part and parcel of the game.

"He's always jumped with his elbows up and I've done the same throughout the game. That's the way it is against centre-forwards who are strong.

"It's my job to defend and I thought I did well against him. Man to man is a big part of my game and I stuck with him."

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