Robson holds off challenge of Curbishley

Newcastle United 3 Charlton Athletic 1

It began as a contest between two managers who represent the past, present and future of English football, but it ended in a crucial win for Newcastle United. The win, courtesy of two goals from Newcastle's veteran skipper, Alan Shearer, and a bundled effort by the PFA Young Player of the Year, Jermaine Jenas, lifted Newcastle above Charlton and level on points with Liverpool in the fight for the fourth and final Champions' League spot.

Having described the match before kick-off as the most important of the season, the Newcastle manager, Sir Bobby Robson, described it as a "massive performance to gain a massive result" after the final whistle. But it was also a victory over a young manager who is starting to suggest that he has the ability to follow in the footsteps of the Premiership's most experienced coach.

It has been more than two decades since Robson, now 71, transformed small, unfashionable Ipswich Town from also-rans to consistent European contenders. In that time he brought both the FA and Uefa Cups to East Anglia and earned himself the England manager's job in the process.

Fast forward 25 years and it is the turn of Alan Curbishley, 46, and Charlton to defy the odds and gatecrash the top of the table. The Addicks also threatened the top four last season, but faded badly and ended up missing out on European qualification altogether.

But, if last year was dismissed as a flash-in-the-pan success for a club traditionally battling against relegation, this season has proven that Charlton, like Ipswich under Robson, remain capable of punching above their perceived Premiership weight.

Even after this defeat, they remain just two points behind Newcastle and Liverpool, two clubs who began the season with title aspirations but who now find themselves as rivals for fourth place and Uefa Cup success. And while Curbishley concedes his two rivals are better equipped to secure the Champions' League pot of gold, he certainly does not think his side are out of the running just yet.

"Newcastle and Liverpool were at home this week and won, we're at home next week and they are away. It will change round again before the end of the season," Curbishley insisted. "It is already a marvellous achievement for us to be where we are, but we're determined not to fall away. We're still up there even though we've got players out through injury."

It was a shame that such an intriguing contest was over-shadowed by a diving controversy after Laurent Robert was awarded a second-half penalty following a challenge by Chris Perry. The spot-kick was tucked in by the impressive Shearer at the second attempt, but the decision infuriated Curbishley who accused the Frenchman of conning the referee, Mike Riley. Television replays showed the Newcastle winger was falling before he made contact.

It was a penalty earned rather than won, but Charlton's anger was doubled because it came seconds after the Newcastle goalkeeper, Shay Given, had made a superb one-handed save to prevent Perry from volleying his side level.

Robson was diplomatic but firm. "He had built up some pace and was going around him to score. If Laurent has dived I will not be happy and I will speak to him, but you have to remember that we won 3-1, not 2-1." Newcastle could have been more than two goals up at half-time. But after some poor defending had allowed Claus Jensen to pull one back 10 minutes into the second period, the Londoners threatened to take a share of the spoils.

Shearer added: "It's our most important win of the season. But there is still a long way to go and Liverpool won as well. We go to Anfield on the last day of the season and I'll only be happy if we go there with a four-point lead."

Goals: Shearer (2) 1-0; Jenas (35) 2-0; Jensen (54) 2-1; Shearer pen (77) 3-1.

Newcastle United (4-4-2): Given 8; Hughes 6 (Bramble 3, 45), O'Brien 5, Woodgate 7, Bernard 6; Ambrose 5 (Bowyer, 80), Jenas 6, Speed 7, Robert 7; Ameobi 6, Shearer 9. Substitutes not used: Harper (gk), Viana, Chopra.

Charlton Athletic (4-4-2): Kiely 7; Young 4, Fortune 6, Perry 6, Hreidarsson 7 (Powell, 89); Kishishev 5 (Johansson 5, 67), Holland 7, Jensen 7, Konchesky 5; Cole 4 (Bartlett, 85), Di Canio 4. Substitutes not used: Royce (gk), Hughes.

Referee: M Riley (West Yorkshire) 5.

Bookings: Charlton: Perry, Young.

Man of the Match: Shearer.

Attendance: 51,847.