Magpies keep pace with top two

Charlton 0 Newcastle 2

Alan Shearer had the record book writers sharpening their pens as he scored Newcastle’s 600th Premiership goal as the Magpies kept pace with Manchester United in the pursuit of Barclaycard Premiership leaders Arsenal.

The former England skipper struck home a penalty late in the first half to ignite passions at The Valley where Charlton felt they were hard done by referee Steve Dunn as well as Lady Luck.

But there was no disguising the determined intent in Sir Bobby Robson’s team, who refused to rest on their laurels of Champions League recovery.

Shearer’s 24th goal of the season was also his 144th in Newcastle colours, making him the club’s third highest scorer behind Jackie Milburn and Len White - and above Hughie Gallacher.

Charlton made it tough early on for Newcastle and had they benefited from key decisions in the first half, this might have been a tale of their advance into the top six.

Jonatan Johansson, recalled to the Charlton attack, twice went close early on while Scott Parker and Claus Jensen took a grip of midfield.

Shearer, playing his 200th Premiership match for Newcastle, was jeered by the home fans after going down heavily in an aerial challenge with Jon Fortune and then complaining to Dunn.

But he had his revenge in the 33rd minute from the penalty spot. The award was hotly disputed but there was never much doubt that Shearer would claim his 24th goal of the season from it. The strike was a drilling thud and Dean Kiely’s dive just a gesture.

Home fans were furious after Craig Bellamy – who shot wide two minutes earlier - penetrated the Charlton area again and went down when both Mark Fish and Jason Euell appeared to tackle him at the same time.

That was enough for Dunn to point to the spot despite the furious reaction of Euell and Chris Powell who roared abuse at Bellamy, although skipper Fish quickly retreated from the scene without argument and television replays vindicated Dunn’s decision.

Newcastle survived two appeals for spot kicks at their end when Parker went down under Titus Bramble’s sliding challenge – although most of it came from the crowd rather than the Charlton players.

Charlton seemed to have a better case when Bramble waded into Johansson soon afterwards but again referee Dunn said play on after a quick look at his linesman.

Charlton were certainly hit by the rejections, though and when Bellamy came raiding again Fortune pulled out of a tackle just inside the area, giving the striker a chance to shoot straight at Kiely.

Luke Young, already booked for scything down Olivier Bernard, was lucky not to go off after catching Bellamy late, but Dunn handed out a caution instead to Hugo Viana as the first half ended amid controversy.

Yet it took only four minutes of the second period to make it all academic. Jensen dribbled through delightfully for Charlton only to arrow his low shot a fraction wide.

And almost before Charlton could blink away a tear of disappointment, Shearer had sparked the clincher.

His clever flick sent Bellamy racing away and he steered the ball across the area for the unmarked Nolberto Solano to slot past Kiely.

Inevitably, Charlton threw all they had at Newcastle.

Euell’s sharp shot and Johansson’s header made Shay Given earn his corn while £9million Johnathan Woodgate looked steady at the back.

In the end Shearer had a chance to make another indelible mark but, this time, when perfectly set up by substitute Keiron Dyer he drove his shot against the advancing Kiely.