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Newcastle 2-1 Charlton

Laurent Robert completed a Newcastle comeback against Charlton which saw Bobby Robson's side continue their climb up the Premiership table.

Shaun Bartlett gave Charlton a shock lead but once Andy Griffin levelled before half-time, Newcastle's pressure proved irresistable.

If we win a game in hand we might go into the top four, and that's after everybody says we had a poor start

Newcastle boss Bobby Robson

Man-of-the-match Robert put Newcastle ahead, but their failure to sew up the game left the Magpies facing some anxious moments.

Photo gallery: Premiership action

Newcastle applied the early pressure, forcing a succession of early set pieces, with Nol Solano whipping in a dangerous 12th minute free-kick which Mark Fish knocked away for a corner from inside his own six-yard box.

Gary Speed then planted a header against the inside of the post from Laurent Robert's 21st minute corner.

Solana then found Jermaine Jenas, who blazed a poor finish over the bar.

Lauren Robert fires Newcastle's winner
Laurent Robert fires Newcastle's winner

Ameobi passed up another opportunity a minute later, latching on to Shearer's flick to squirt his shot wide from 15 yards.

As Newcastle appeared to be gathering momentum, Charlton took a surprise lead.

Newcastle defender Andy O'Brien failed to deal with Claus Jensen's cross and Bartlett was left with the chance to score his first goal since September 2001.

Key moments

29mins: Shaun Bartlett puts Charlton ahead.

37mins: Andy Griffin levels.

59mins: Laurent Robert fires Newcastle ahead.

But Newcastle continued to apply the pressure and they levelled on 37 minutes from their 11th corner of the half.

Shearer nodded the ball back to Griffin who thumped a rasping shot in off the underside of the bar, to follow his Champions League winner over Juventus in midweek.

Sloppy defending from Titus Bramble almost gifted Charlton an instant chance to re-take the lead, but Given bailed the �6m defender out as he saved from Barltett.

Laurent Robert profile

Given, restored after being dropped in midweek, produced another fine save in first-half injury time to deny Jensen.

Shaun Bartlett celebrates his opener for Charlton

Ameobi was shown a yellow card at the start of the second half for punching the ball into the net.

A searing shot from Robert brought the best out of Charlton keeper Dean Kiely as Newcastle built up a head of steam.

Referee D'Urso spoke to Shearer and Richard Rufus after a wrestling match on the halfway line, but on 59 minutes Charlton were licking their wounds.

Ameobi fed Robert on the left of the penalty area and his drilled shot from a tight angle gave Kiely no chance.

Luke Young then produced a great tackle inside the six-yard box to deny Speed.

We need to put two or three wins together to push us out of trouble

Charlton boss Alan Curbishley

Charlton refused to lay down, though, and both Euell and Rowett were denied by fine saves from Given.

Robert missed a golden chance to put the game out of reach, heading wide from six yards out with 10 minutes left, but it did not prove costly.

Watch a round-up of the weekend's action

Newcastle: Given, Griffin, O'Brien, Bramble, Hughes, Solano (Viana 87), Jenas, Speed, Robert (Bernard 87), Shearer, Ameobi.
Subs Not Used: Harper, Chopra, Dabizas.

Booked: Ameobi, Griffin.

Charlton: Kiely, Rowett, Rufus, Fish, Robinson (Blomqvist 73), Parker (Johansson 83), Jensen, Mustoe, Young (Kishishev 80), Euell, Bartlett.
Subs Not Used: Rachubka, Fortune.

Booked: Rufus.

Attendance: 51,670

Referee: A D'Urso (Essex).


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