Sheer power crushes Valley fortress

Charlton Athletic 0 Newcastle United

The sands of time may be running away but Alan Shearer is making up for missed opportunities. Not that he spurned many yesterday. An imperious first-half penalty helped earn his side victory and made him the third highest goalscorer in Newcastle United's history.

If only, Newcastle supporters must think. If only he had not been allowed to leave Tyneside and go first to Southampton and then Blackburn Rovers before eventually coming home for £15m more than he should have cost.

Now 32, and making his 200th League appearance for the Magpies, he has scored 144 goals in 255 games in all competitions for the club – nudging ahead of Hughie Gallacher. Time, of course, is running out and he will not surpass Jackie Milburn's record of 238 goals – although he may catch Len White on 173.

Shearer will probably also be pipped by Thierry Henry as player of the year but the canniness of his display yesterday again raised the topic of his premature retirement from the international arena, which may yet be about to end. "He's a tough lad. We have not quite replaced him in the England team, have we?" said his manager Sir Bobby Robson.

It would be intriguing to see if he could forge as profitable a partnership with Michael Owen as he has with Craig Bellamy – on fire yesterday – who finished ahead of his partner in the man-of-the-match stakes. "Shearer and Bellamy were a terrific combination up front," Robson said. "Always difficult to handle. Bellamy is a matchwinner. I know the crowd were irritated by him but they would love him in their team."

The result consolidates Newcastle's Champions' League berth – indeed Alan Curbishley, Charlton Athletic's manager, ventured that they could go further still, and finish the season on top of the pile. "I think they have to be taken very seriously. They have a squad capable of going on and doing it."

As for Charlton, their own aspirations took another sobering dent. The Premiership's former form team have lost their last two games, rare in itself, but even rarer in that this was a home fixture. The Valley has been a fortress since mid-October. The defences were lowered rather too easily yesterday.

Curbishley contended that the game hinged on two penalty decisions – one that was given and one that was not. In truth, that was a partisan view for the visitors worthy winners.

They pressed from the start, displaying admirable resilience after another midweek European match – they are now unbeaten in all 13 Premiership games that have followed a Champions' League fixture, winning 11 of them.

Moments after driving a shot wide when well-placed, Bellamy careered into the area and went to ground under pressure from Jason Euell and Mark Fish. Despite fierce protests from Charlton, referee Steve Dunn correctly awarded a penalty and Shearer struck his 24th goal of the season.

Then, in a similar incident, Charlton's Jonatan Johannson was squeezed out by Olivier Bernard and Titus Bramble. The contact was minimal, and probably outside the area, but the home side were incensed.

One player – Luke Young – was too keen to vent his frustration with a series of reckless challenges on Bellamy in particular, and both managers conceded the player – booked earlier – was fortunate not to be dismissed before half-time. He was later substituted.

Johansson had been recalled as Curbishley broke up the strike partnership that had started 14 of the last 15 league games. However, with Jonathan Woodgate in commanding form – "majestic" was how Robson described him – the Finnish striker rarely threatened.

At the other end Shearer was enjoying a physical battle with Charlton's captain Mark Fish. "Shearer was getting involved as he always does," Curbishley said ruefully. Fish was also taken off.

Charlton desperately needed a break but after Claus Jensen screwed his shot wide when well-placed on 48 minutes, they conceded a second, and decisive, goal. Shearer, again, cleverly outmanoeuvred Fish to steer the ball into Bellamy's path. He breached the defence and crossed low for Nolberto Solano to sidefoot home.

Charlton, while labouring to contain the Newcastle attack, struggled to make an impact as an attacking force. As they huffed and puffed, forcing just one elastic save from Shay Given, Newcastle threatened to pick them off on the counter.

Solano, after another mazy run by Bellamy, stuck out a leg and the ball struck a post. Earlier Shearer had lazily driven his shot straight at Kiely's legs. He should have scored. Again.

Charlton Athletic 0 Newcastle United 2
Shearer pen 33, Solano 49

Half-time: 0-1 Attendance: 26,728