O'Neill full of sympathy for Toon

Martin O'Neill had nothing but sympathy for Newcastle counterpart Alan Shearer after Villa's win condemned them to the Championship.

Damien Duff's own goal handed Villa a 1-0 win on the final day of the Premier League season, ending the Magpies' 16-year stay in the top flight.

But the Villa chief believes Shearer, who he has worked alongside as a World Cup pundit for the BBC, is the right man to bring United back up next season - despite his lack of managerial experience.

O'Neill said: "I know the story today is not about us and I am sorry and have sympathy for Alan Shearer and Newcastle.

"The Premier League will be poorer without Newcastle in it. It is disappointing that they have been relegated.

"I think there will be general disappointment that Newcastle have gone down. I know Alan came in at a very difficult time.

"I think it was the right thing for them to do, whether he had the experience or not.

"I think it will be great if he stays as manager. It will be good for Newcastle and for the game.

"I am sure Alan will reflect on things but I think he can be anything he wants to be. In time he can be a really class manager.

"I think he'll obviously reflect on it. I think he's a lot like Roy Keane, he can be anything he wants to be.

The result left the Magpies in 18th place and Shearer, who will not make a decision on his future at the club until after the weekend, admitted his recently-inherited team got what they deserved.

"I can't complain, we weren't good enough over the 38 games," he said. What's in the dressing room hasn't been good enough.

"Congratulations to the other teams who have stayed up. They will build in the Premier League and this club will have to build to get back up.

"There's big changes needed to be made, from top to bottom. Big mistakes have been made."

Asked if he wanted to stay on as manager, Shearer said: "Ask me that in a few days. I haven't even thought about it. First and foremost I haven't been offered it and I haven't thought about it."

O'Neill, meanwhile, felt his side were deserved winners as they beat last season's total and reached 62 points for the campaign.

"I thought the game itself they started very brightly. They took the game to us and had a couple of chances.

"They didn't go in and obviously there's a disappointment but I thought we became stronger and eventually we deserved to win the game."