FIFTEEN million pounds, 10 years, 399 games, 202 goals, 0 trophies. That final statistic may read like a damning epitaph to Alan Shearer’s Newcastle United career, but his decade at St James’ Park might have been gilded with silverware had others contributed half as much as him.

John Terry’s goal in last night’s FA Cup quarter-final carried Chelsea closer to their first Double and predictably ended Shearer’s faint hopes of a glorious finale, but as he prepares for his final lap of honour, the old warhorse has nothing to be embarrassed about.

His performance last night may have been notable for little more than a late booking for dissent, but then, given age, injuries and the monstrous burden of trying to lift his woefully mismanaged club, it is hardly surprising that he has flagged in his later years.

“Alan wouldn’t want sympathy,” Glenn Roeder, the Newcastle United caretaker manager, said. “I’m sure he would have liked a medal or two, but it is not for lack of him trying as hard as he could. He will dust himself down, finish the season, then head into retirement, but I’m sure he’ll be back at this club as manager, whether it takes one or six years.”

Shearer, 35, was booked last night shortly after Robbie Elliott had picked up a second yellow card for blocking Shaun Wright-Phillips. Elliott had pushed his luck, but it was a harsh decision and Wright- Phillips was not spared by Roeder or Shearer.

“He dived and it’s an element that is creeping into our game,” Shearer said.

Roeder said: “I would be disappointed in the young man. I don’t think his dad (Ian Wright) will be too pleased.”

The decision came too late to affect a victory that showed Chelsea to be in reasonable spirit, if lacking ruthlessness. Manchester United might fancy their chances in a head-to-head at the moment, but with Manchester City and Birmingham City next up for the champions, they have ideal opponents to bring them back to form for an uplifting end to the campaign, particularly if they can avoid Liverpool in tomorrow’s semi-final draw.

Chelsea were dominant last night, although José Mourinho was sufficiently annoyed by some of his team’s wastefulness to rip his notebook into pieces. He will not have expected any late anxiety when Chelsea went ahead within four minutes.

Roeder had described it as the tie that no one wanted and this was the start that no one in black and white wanted either as Damien Duff whipped a corner to the near post for Terry to steer goalwards. Nolberto Solano attempted to intervene, only to steer the ball under Shay Given. “I’m definitely claiming it,” Terry said.

It was sloppy marking from Peter Ramage, while, if it is not kicking a man when he is down, Shearer looked rooted to the spot as the ball was played in. For all of Roeder’s attempts to drill the back line after the lax regime of Graeme Souness, the defensive manpower is hopelessly inadequate.

From the moment that they gathered for a huddle that briefly delayed the kick-off, Newcastle’s commitment could not be faulted, but ferocity in the tackle from Scott Parker and eagerness in possession from Kieron Dyer could not disguise the fact that they were going to be restricted to chances on the counter-attack.

From one, Carlo Cudicini parried Lee Bowyer’s shot, but just as Shearer attempted to capitalise on the rebound, Terry arrived to deny him. A free kick by Solano also gave Cudicini a moment’s anxiety, but it was back at the other end that the next goal should have come and Ricardo Carvalho could spend a long time trying to explain how he failed to score it.

Lampard’s free kick invited a finishing touch, but Carvalho’s outstretched leg succeeded only in deflecting the ball back across the face of the goal. It was the sort of miss that could be laughed at in the aftermath of victory, but as the whistle blew for half-time a couple of minutes later, Mourinho will not have been content with the slender advantage.

The odd layoff and wrestling bout with Terry aside, Shearer was struggling to make headway. Dyer, looking to push for a place in England’s World Cup squad, was causing more concern for Chelsea as he buzzed around in his role as an auxiliary striker. He impressed, although Sven-Göran Eriksson will want to see a sustained run of games before he can consider taking such an injury-prone player to Germany this summer.

His swift attacks were thwarted by some dogged Chelsea tackling, but as long as the game stayed 1-0, Newcastle lived in hope of a lucky break. It was not to come and Shearer was left to troop off, complaining bitterly.

CHELSEA (4-3-3): C Cudicini — Gérémi, R Carvalho, J Terry, A Del Horno — E Gudjohnsen (sub: M Essien, 78min), C Makelele, F Lampard — J Cole (sub: H Crespo, 78), D Drogba, D Duff (sub: S Wright-Phillips, 68). Substitutes not used: P Cech, R Huth. Booked: Drogba, Gérémi.

NEWCASTLE UNITED (4-4-1-1): S Given — S Carr, P Ramage, R Elliott, C Babayaro (sub: C Moore, 52) — N Solano (sub: Emre Belözoglu, 70), L Bowyer, S Parker, F Ameobi — K Dyer — A Shearer. Substitutes not used: S Harper, A Faye, L Clark. Booked: Elliott, Moore, Ameobi, Shearer. Sent off: Elliott.

Referee: S Bennett.