Shearer picked up his first ever point as a manager at the Britannia Stadium

Newcastle United manager Alan Shearer has praised Stoke City's achievements this season, following their 1-1 draw at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday.

"Stoke have had a fantastic season, whatever happens between now and the end of the season," the former England captain told BBC Radio Stoke.

"They're enjoying it, they deserve to be where they are and you've got to give them credit for that.

"Their play is not to everyone's style, but it works, so good luck to them."

The Magpies are still in the bottom three in the Premier League, while Stoke are currently six points above the relegation zone.

The point was Shearer's first as a manager, and he was delighted with the way his players performed on the night.

"You're coming to a hostile atmosphere, and a game that's very different to what you'll face in most games," added Shearer.

"But in the main, I thought our players handled the situation and the way Stoke played very well."

In the meantime, Stoke boss Tony Pulis believed his team should have come away with all three points, having taken the lead through former Newcastle defender Abdoulaye Faye.

Pulis told BBC Radio Stoke: "For the first 70 minutes, it was as good as we've played at home.

"We're just desperately disappointed that we couldn't get that second goal, which I think would have killed the game."

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