Lee Ryder reports from the Valley
Charlton 2 Newcastle 0
Newcastle United tumbled to another defeat at the hands of relegation candidates Chartlton today at the Valley.
United looked toothless as they failed to even push their hosts as the Addicks increased their hopes of staying up.
Newcastle could did not have a shot on target until stoppage time on a day their loyal fans will want to forget.
Glenn Roeder reacted to the shocking UEFA Cup exit against AZ Alkmaar by making several changes to his starting line-up, however, the omission of Steven Taylor was due to a calf injury.
The back-four saw Gooch Onyewu return to the fray after the American was cup-tied in Europe with Aussie Craig Moore joining him in the heart of defence.
And Damien Duff replaced Paul Huntington at left-back.
In midfield Emre and James Milner were restored to the side with Scott Parker making up the central unit and Kieron Dyer playing in a more advanced role behind Oba Martins and Antoine Sibierski.
The selection appeared to look threatening early on but Newcastle lacked a killer touch in the final third.
Indeed Dyer’s probing pass to the right of penalty area but Sibierski’s failure to get the ball under control eventually saw the Frenchman crowded out by a posse of Charlton defenders after six minutes.
Then on 17 minutes Martins fed Milner in the right hand channel but the England Under-21 ace smashed his shot high over the bar.
Returning former Athletic man Parker, who was roundly booed all game, ended the half with a wayward shot that didn’t trouble Scott Carson.
But the second half produced a golden chance for Martins on 48 minutes.
Emre cracked a shot from just outside the box which was intercepted by the Nigerian but after chesting it down from seven yards out he somehow dragged it wide with the goal yawning.
The miss cost United dearly too as Charlton took the lead five minutes later.
Darren Bent cracked an effort of the crossbar and with Given rooted to the spot not one Newcastle defender followed the set-piece up allowing Chinese striker Zheng Zhi to head home the rebound.
Then two minutes before the hour mark Jerome Thomas’s swirling left wing cross had to be palmed away by Given at the back post.
Given also kept out Darren Bent again from close range after he pawed away his header after another Thomas cross from the left wing once again.
Newcastle appeared to lack belief going forward and Charlton always looked the most likely to add to the scores.
Zhi also forced another save out of Given with 13 minutes left with Irishman blocking an effort from a tight angle after the Addicks hurt Newcastle, again on the left.
It was another toothless effort from Newcastle as they reached the dying stages without even producing a shot on target.
However, United were glad to see the back of Darren Bent who was subbed after a dangerous performance from Newcastle’s point of view.
Charlton killed off the game when Solano upended Zhi with three minutes to play as ref Dermot Gallagher pointed to the spot before Thomas struck it to the right of Given to make it 2-0.
Sub Charles N'Zogbia did force Carson into a late good save but it was too little, far too late.
CHARLTON: Carson, Young, Hreidarsson, Marcus Bent, (Rommedahl 46), Holland, Zhi, Darren Bent (Lisbie 83), Thomas, El Kalkouri, Song (Faye 40), Diawara.
NEWCASTLE: Given, Solano, Duff, Onyewu, Moore, Milner, Dyer (N’Zogbia 76), Emre, Parker, Sibierski, Martins.
Subs not used: Harper, Carroll, Bramble, Huntington.
Attendance: 27,028
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