Souness to study outburst

Charlton 1 Newcastle 1

The Wales forward was clearly unhappy when he was replaced by Shola Ameobi after 66 minutes at The Valley, where he had put his side in front just before half-time.

Television pictures from the live encounter showed Bellamy was left less than impressed by his manager’s decision, appearing to mouth obscenities towards the bench as he left the field.

Souness revealed: “I did not see it, but I can understand players not being happy.”

The Newcastle boss quipped: “I will look at it and ask him if it was directed at me, and I will let you know what happens.”

After playing twice for his country during the international break, Souness maintained it was a “common sense” decision to replace the fiery striker during the second half.

“He has played two games, has lost two games, psychologically he is not going to be in great condition, physically he is not going to be at his best, so I think it was a common sense thing to do,” reflected Souness.

Souness, meanwhile, was content enough with his side’s performance as Newcastle stretched their unbeaten run to six matches since the Scot took charge.

“It was a hard-fought game, and not the ideal one to have when you have had so many players away on international duty,” he reflected after an own-goal from Andy O’Brien had drawn Charlton level at the start of the second half.

Newcastle skipper Alan Shearer saw a goal-bound header cleared off the line, before he performed a similar moment of last-ditch defending at the other end as the home side hit the woodwork twice during the closing stages.

Souness added: “I think a draw was a fair result”, a sentiment echoed by Charlton manager Alan Curbishley about his side.

After some indifferent performances this season, Curbishley believes - a 4-0 drubbing at Arsenal aside - things are starting to come together for his much-changed squad.

“There has been a bit of criticism of the club because of our performances and I think we were trying today to set about turning that around,” reflected the Charlton boss.

“Newcastle are a top-five club and are on a bit of a run. We were defending quite well, and so have gone in a bit subdued at half-time after the goal. We said we can get back in this, put pressure on them, and I am delighted we did it.”

CHARLTON: Kiely, Young, Perry, Fortune, Hreidarsson, Rommedahl, Stuart, Holland, Murphy, Bartlett, Lisbie (Jeffers 79).

NEWCASTLE: Given, Carr, O’Brien, Elliott, Bernard, Bowyer, Butt (Milner 76), Jenas, Ambrose (Robert 66), Shearer, Bellamy (Ameobi 66).

Referee: P Walton (Northamptonshire).