Newcastle United 0 Charlton Athletic 0

CHARLTON manager Alan Curbishley was pleased to see his side keep a clean sheet following the 0-0 draw against Newcastle at St James’s Park on Wednesday.

Curbishley had revealed his determination to turn around the club’s poor away form before the game and was happy to see the Addicks pick up only their second away point in eight attempts.

He said: "Our away record stands up to scrutiny over the entire season but, in recent months, it has been desperate and we needed to turn that around."

Shola Ameobi wasted the best chance to break the deadlock when he sent a free header over the bar 14 minutes from time.

Earlier, former Newcastle midfielder Darren Ambrose came closest for Charlton with a curling free-kick and then a late drive that was blocked by Jean-Alain Boumsong.

At the other end, Turkey midfielder Emre hit the bar with a free-kick and forced Addicks keeper Thomas Myhre into two saves. Myhre again kept out the home side two minutes after the restart when he dived bravely at the feet of Ameobi.

Ameobi had a penalty appeal waved away after a challenge by Chris Perry, while Darren Bent started to cause problems for the home side in the latter stages.

Charlton finished the stronger and Jason Euell almost snatched a late winner, but was denied by a last ditch tackle from Boumsong.

Charlton: Myhre, Young, Perry, Hreidarsson, Spector, Kishishev, Hughes (Euell 70), Holland, Ambrose, M Bent, D Bent.
Subs Not Used: Randolph, El Karkouri, Powell, Bothroyd.
Attendance: 50,451.