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Last Updated: Saturday, 5 February, 2005, 16:53 GMT
Newcastle 1-1 Charlton
Radostin Kishisev congratulates Charlton scorer Dennis Rommedahl
Dennis Rommedahl's super strike earned Charlton a point and kept Newcastle in the bottom half of the Premiership.

The home fans showed their displeasure after an unimaginative Newcastle failed to break down Charlton in the first half, despite dominating possession.

The hosts eventually took the lead shortly after the break through Kieron Dyer's deflected shot.

But less than a minute later, Rommedahl cut inside and drilled a 25-yard shot into the bottom right-hand corner.

It was a bitter blow for Graeme Souness who had picked a side full of attacking promise as he looked to make up ground on European places.

Dyer and Amdy Faye played at the top and bottom of a midfield diamond, with Jermaine Jenas and Lee Bowyer joining the attack when possible.

But it was Charlton boss Alan Curbishley, celebrating his 400th top-flight game in charge, who won the first-half battle of wills.

Alan Shearer provided the first shot on target after 10 minutes but his header was easily saved by Dean Kiely.

But despite that promising enough start, Newcastle seemed to run out of ideas as Charlton's defence coped easily.

The hosts upped the tempo after the break and Dyer set up Ameobi, who shot well over.

The breakthrough finally came on 52 minutes when Shearer headed Titus Bramble's long ball across goal for Dyer to ram it home.

But even as the Newcastle fans breathed a sigh of relief, Charlton hit back through Rommedahl's rocket after Andy O'Brien gifted him possession.

Newcastle once again appeared to run out of steam and with 15 minutes left, the home fans were back on their feet to welcome the arrival of substitutes Laurent Robert and Patrick Kluivert.

Robert almost had an immediate impact when he took a free-kick which Bramble could only head straight at Kiely.

Charlton then burst into life as Rommedahl threatened again, chipping just beyond the far post and moments later, bursting through before shooting just wide.

There was yet more frustration for Newcastle late on when Paul Konchesky blocked Jenas' goalbound shot and Talal El Karkouri flung himself in front of Dyer to stop him netting the rebound.

Graeme Souness said he could understand why Newcastle fans voiced their displeasure during their side's 1-1 draw with Charlton.

  • Newcastle manager Graeme Souness on the booing by fans:

    "That's the price of playing at a big football club.

    "You have got to show what you are made of, you have got to want the ball at all times, and I think we did that.

    "But the pressure is on at big clubs when you are not winning every week, and that's something that we all have to deal with."

    Charlton boss Alan Curbishley:

    "We felt it would be a tough old game and our game-plan was to still be in it at half-time," explained Curbishley.

    "Unfortunately, we just couldn't get that winning goal. We deserved it, but we just couldn't get it.

    "It's a great point for us. We defended fantastically and just a little bit more on the break and we may have taken all three points."

    Newcastle: Given, Carr, Bramble, Andrew O'Brien, Babayaro, Jenas, Faye, Dyer, Bowyer (Robert 70), Ameobi (Kluivert 69), Shearer.
    Subs Not Used: Butt, Harper, Hughes.

    Booked: Faye.

    Goals: Dyer 52.

    Charlton: Kiely, Young, Perry, El Karkouri, Hreidarsson, Rommedahl (Lisbie 84), Holland, Murphy (Euell 90), Kishishev, Konchesky, Bartlett. Subs Not Used: Andersen, Johansson, Sam.

    Booked: Konchesky.

    Goals: Rommedahl 53.

    Att: 51,114

    Ref: M Halsey (Lancashire).

    Interview: Newcastle Utd manager Graeme Souness

    Interview: Charlton Athletic's Dennis Rommedahl

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