Given heroics frustrate Charlton

Charlton 0-0 Newcastle

Premiership pictures

Newcastle keeper Shay Given proved Charlton's nemesis at The Valley as he kept the home side at bay to earn the Magpies a point.

Given produced some fine saves to frustrate Charlton while the visitors played mostly on the counter-attack.

Jason Euell hit the post and was denied through a mixture of Given's performance and his own poor finishing.

Robert had a Newcastle effort cleared off the line as the teams shared the spoils.

Newcastle had little choice but to try and attack Charlton because of defensive injuries which saw Nolberto Solano playing at right wing-back.

And Robert almost scored only to see a shot cleared off the line by Scott Parker after the Addicks failed to deal with a corner.

Di Canio (right) shows his battling qualities against Bernard

But Charlton weathered the early storm before gradually imposing themselves on the game with Euell at the centre of their play.

He had a shot saved by keeper Given as Charlton began to gradually dominate and fired over with just the visitors' keeper to beat.

Another Euell effort just after the half hour mark struck the bar and his frustration only grew when Given saved his rebound.

Almost immediately, the busy Given was at full stretch again.

He punched out a Paolo di Canio shot but Graham Stuart headed the effort back at goal.

And Charlton seemed set to take the lead before the acrobatic Magpies stopper tipped the ball over the bar.

Several good saves from Given would suggest that this was a point gained rather then two lost From Toon Scotty Have your say on 606

The second half started in similar fashion and Stuart went close with a well-struck long range shot.

But, despite having most of the play, Charlton could not conjure up any clearcut openings and the game finished with both teams a point apart in the Premiership.

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Charlton: Kiely, Kishishev, Perry, Fortune, Hreidarsson, Holland, Parker, Jensen, Stuart, Euell, Di Canio (Cole 78).
Subs Not Used: Royce, Powell, Johansson, Turner.

Newcastle: Given, Hughes, O'Brien, Bernard, Solano, Dyer, Jenas, Speed, Robert (Ambrose 87), Shearer, Ameobi (LuaLua 77).
Subs Not Used: Harper, Stephen Caldwell, Viana.

Attendance: 26,508.

Referee: S Bennett (Kent).