Newcastle 3 Charlton 1
Alan Shearer turned in a captain's display to fire Newcastle to victory in their Champions League showdown with Charlton.
The 33-year-old headed home the opener just 57 seconds into a crucial game and then added a second - his 22nd of the season - 14 minutes from time after Dean Kiely had saved his penalty.
United had been cruising at the break after Jermaine Jenas had got a block on a 35th-minute Luke Young clearance and seen the ball fly into the net. But, after Aaron Hughes limped off and Sir Bobby Robson was forced to re-organise his defence, they turned in an edgy display which was in stark contrast to their first-half performance.
Claus Jensen pulled one back nine minutes after the restart and the visitors twice hit the post in a late flurry to leave the home fans among a crowd of 51,847 biting their fingernails as time ran down.
Shearer, however, was once again the hero as his rugged individual display in the face of severe provocation from Chris Perry was rewarded with goals and the knowledge that his side is once again back in the mix for the big prize.