Robson tells players: you're pathetic

Charlton's goals, from Mathias Svensson and Shaun Bartlett, came in a six-minute spell just before half-time and left Robson seething.

He said: 'We were pathetic during that period, pretty abysmal. My players have got to realise you've got to fight for the right to play. Reputations and names don't mean a thing.

'What I'm concerned about is our boyish attitude. We should have had a terrific appetite to come here and play after not playing last weekend. Charlton have taken six points off us. Good luck to them. They deserve it.'

For Charlton to reach 40 points with 11 games to go is an outstanding achievement.

Nobody could deny them their celebrations after they took control from the outset.

Curbishley's side were totally committed, especially in mid-field, where Graham Stuart, Scott Parker and Claus Jensen won the ball and used it well.

Bartlett and Svensson were dominant in the air when Charlton found room to put the ball into the danger areas.

Svensson could not have been much closer when he towered above the defence to meet Chris Powell's cross with a header that scraped the upright. Then Bartlett launched himself at Stuart's cross to force a flying tip on to the post from keeper Shay Given.

It only delayed the inevitable. When Powell crossed and Bartlett unselfishly headed down, Svensson drilled home the bouncing ball left-footed.

The Swede turned provider two minutes before the break. The linesman's flag was raised as Aaron Hughes stuck out an arm to prevent Svensson's ball reaching Kishishev, although the referee saw there had been no contact and waved play on. But when Svensson eventually centred, Newcastle stood waiting for a whistle and the unmarked Bartlett had all the time he needed to scored.

Protests followed but to no avail. Newcastle had only themselves to blame.

Only after Robson had replaced the ineffective Clarence Acuna with Kevin Gallacher, allowing Kieron Dyer to revert to his preferred midfield role, did Newcastle even look like threatening.

Curbishley said: 'We've gone seven unbeaten without Johansson, Kinsella, Kiely and Hunt. We just went a bit negative in the second half.'

Ilic turned aside the bustling Shola Ameobi's drive after the break but Charlton were still more forceful and composed. Svensson was denied by Given after Parker's run, while even Andy Todd tried his luck from near the halfway line.

Ilic saved from Gallacher in stoppage time, yet this was comfortable for Curbishley's side.