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Shearer headed Newcastle ahead in the first minute and won the ball to set up a second goal, which saw Chris Perry's clearance cannon in off Jermaine Jenas.

Claus Jensen slid in to pull a second-half goal back for Charlton whose hopes were dashed by a controversial penalty.

Laurent Robert's dive under Perry's challenge gave Shearer the chance to secure the points from the spot.

Shearer led Newcastle's race out of the blocks, heading them in front after just 56 seconds.

A poor defensive header returned Laurent Robert's throw-in to him, but his cross was inch perfect for Shearer, who did not make the cleanest contact with his header for his 21st goal of the season.

KEY MOMENTS 53secs: Shearer heads Newcastle ahead 34 mins: Newcastle double their lead as Perry clearance hits Jenas 54 mins Jensen pulls one back for Charlton 80 mins Shearer buries controversial penalty to make it 3-1.

Newcastle won a free-kick 25 yards out and despite the acute angle, dead-ball specialist Robert fancied his chances to curl a shot round the wall and draw a sharp save from Dean Kiely.

Radostin Kishishev had Charlton's first clear sight of goal on 23 minutes, driving into the side netting from a tight angle.

Charlton were struggling to cope with the aerial threat at the back and Ameobi rose to head powerfully over from Olivier Bernard's cross.

Shearer's sheer physical presence unhinged Charlton and he continually roughed up Perry, so it was little surprise when Shearer's menace was the catalyst as Newcastle doubled their lead on 34 minutes.

The former England striker knocked the ball down for Ameobi and although he lost control, Charlton's panicked attempts to clear saw Perry's clearance cannon off Jenas and into the net.

Charlton had struggled to get any sort of foothold in the first-half, but were thrown a 53rd minute lifeline by Claus Jensen.

A good committed performance today - Shearer was magnificent From Ridley Have your say on 606

Paul Konchesky stole forward to whip in a cross which half-time substitute Titus Bramble failed to deal with and Jensen zipped in on the blind side to finish.

The goal instilled some belief in Charlton and it needed a great last-ditch tackle from Jonathan Woodgate to deny Matt Holland.

Newcastle were rattled and after Given got his angles spot on to deny Cole, the game turned on 30 controversial seconds.

Perry came within a whisker of equalising when Given pushed his shot on to the post, and as Newcastle broke, Robert went down theatrically under Perry's challenge to win a penalty, although replays showed it was clearly a dive.

Even then, Newcastle enjoyed a huge slice of luck as Kiely pushed Shearer's penalty on to the post, only for the ball to rebound kindly for the former England striker to tap home.

Salt was rubbed into Charlton's wound when Jonatan Johansson's shot smacked against the post.

Newcastle: Given, Hughes (Bramble 45), O'Brien, Woodgate, Bernard, Ambrose (Bowyer 79), Jenas, Speed, Robert, Ameobi, Shearer. Subs not used: Harper, Chopra, Viana.

Charlton: Kiely, Young, Fortune, Perry, Hreidarsson (Powell 89), Kishishev (Johansson 67), Holland, Jensen, Konchesky, Di Canio, Cole (Bartlett 84). Subs not used: Royce, Hughes.
Booked: Perry, Young.

Attendance: 51,847.