FANS hailed Gary Lineker’s lethal trolling after he enjoyed a trip down memory pain at Alan Shearer.
All-time Prem top scorer Shearer never won a major honour in 10 years at Newcastle.
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And when the two ex-England strikers got together in the BBC Match of the Day studio on FA Cup fourth-round day, Lineker went straight there…
Admittedly, it came on the day Newcastle fought back to oust League One Birmingham 3-2, albeit with a controversial goal.
But back in 2007 the story could not have been more different when the two sides met at St James’ Park in a round-three replay.
Toon cult hero Nolberto Solano even bagged an own goal as Brum triumphed 5-1 – despite a goal from James Milner.
Birmigham bagged netted three times after Steven Taylor saw red for the Magpies.
And Shearer’s MOTD colleague Shay Given was the Newcastle goalkeeper that day.
Lineker showed a flashback clip from 18 years ago, when Shearer was an MOTD rookie after retiring as a player at the end of the previous season.
Beeb host Lineker was seen addressing grinning big-name pundits in 2007.
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The ex-Tottenham and Barcelona striker said: “No shortage of cup winners, though, in the studio.
“Alan Hansen with Liverpool, Lee Dixon with Arsenal and… Alan Shearer, who went close a couple of times with Newcastle.”
The 2007 Lineker then mocked Shearer for being “really confident” Newcastle would beat Birmingham back then – and for always predicting his old club were set for glory.
He said to the 260-goal Prem marksman at the time: “I suppose this would be typical if this is the year they go and do it, now you’ve retired?”
Shearer admitted ruefully: “I’ve been saying it for the past 10, 11, 12 years – this might just be our year.”
MOTD then returned to live coverage, with gleeful viewers suggesting “Lineker never misses a chance!” to taunt pal Shearer.
One reckoned the ex-Barcelona ace delivered a “straight bullet”.
And another fan twisted the knife by saying of Shearer: “He never won anything at Newcastle that’s for sure unless he played for them in the 60s.”
By this stage, Given might have thought he’d escaped stick – for being between the sticks.
But Shearer then joked Birmingham’s 5-1 triumph was “only because Shay was in goal”.
Given said, “Don’t look at me, lads!” – before adding: “I know, I know – I can’t remember!”
One viewer responded: “Some things never change! Shearer taking Ls even off the pitch, and Shay caught in the crossfire.”
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