Depleted Magpies dominate but lack cutting edge

Newcastle 0 Charlton 0

The Magpies dominated much of the game despite having to do without skipper Alan Shearer and FA Cup hero Kieron Dyer, but simply could not make the breakthrough.

Shola Ameobi passed up a glorious opportunity to win it 14 minutes from time, leaving Roeder’s men forced to make do with a draw.

His side enjoyed enough possession to have won the game comfortably, but lacked a genuine cutting edge.

Even without Shearer and Dyer, two men who have done much to lift the gloom over St James’ Park in recent weeks, there was a belief that the Magpies could win a third successive Barclays Premiership game and a fourth in all competitions.

That feeling was largely reinforced by a first-half display which promised much, although delivered little in terms of tangible results.

Roeder was forced to field a makeshift strike-force - Albert Luque was again consigned to the bench - with Turkey midfielder Emre asked to help link a midfield quartet in which Lee Bowyer was recalled with lone striker Ameobi.

But despite the enforced changes, the home side looked organised with Titus Bramble rock-solid and even Jean-Alain Boumsong largely untroubled as 17-goal striker Bent saw little of the ball.

The traffic was mostly one-way.

Ameobi had a 37th-minute strike ruled out for offside, but it was to defender Boumsong that the best chance had fallen seven minutes earlier when Nolberto Solano picked him out with a long free-kick, but he directed his header straight at Myhre.

Myhre once again came to his side’s rescue within two minutes of the restart when he had to dive bravely at the feet of Ameobi after Bowyer had poked the ball into his path.

Shay Given needed two attempts to collect a Matt Holland drive 16 minutes from time. The Irishman had to save from Darren Bent on 79 minutes and only a last-ditch challenge by Boumsong denied substitute Jason Euell five minutes later.

If anything, Charlton finished the game stronger as Newcastle ran out of ideas, but Given and his patched-up defence managed to hold out to at least preserve Roeder’s unbeaten run.

NEWCASTLE: Given, Ramage, Bramble (Luque 55), Boumsong, Elliott, Solano, Parker, Bowyer, N’Zogbia, Emre, Ameobi.

CHARLTON: Myhre, Young, Perry, Hreidarsson, Spector, Kishishev, Holland, Hughes (Euell 70), Ambrose, Marcus Bent, Darren Bent.

Ref: U Rennie.