STRUGGLING Charlton were sunk by two spectacular goals after taking an early lead to leave them perilously close to the Premiership trapdoor.

A sweet left-foot Laurent Robert drive after 59 minutes won the game for the Magpies after Andy Griffin smashed an unstoppable 25-yard equaliser, following Shaun Bartlett's 30th-minute opener.

The defeat, Curbishley's 100th in the league since he took sole charge in June 1995 and the fifth in Charlton's last seven league games, has left them fourth from bottom.

Despite the Addicks' impressive form at St James' Park winning four and drawing two of their last seven league visits they fell to their fourth successive defeat away from The Valley.

Charlton boss Alan Curbishley said: "We played all right but we just never really did enough.

"We could have been up at half-time but our back-three never quite managed to get to grips with Ameobi and Shearer.

"We've had a bad start, and then got a great result last week against Middlesborough. But now we've taken a step back again and we need to put two or three wins together to push us out of trouble.

"We've only performed in four or five of our 11 games this season and we're not as consistent as we have been in previous years, but it's not through want of trying."

Charlton started nervously and could have been one down in less than 30 seconds when Mark Fish misjudged a long ball.

Former England skipper Alan Shearer, searching for his 100th league goal for the Geordies, was on to it in a flash but quick-thinking Gary Rowett spared his team-mates' blushes.

Newcastle went close on several occasions. First, Gary Speed headed a corner from just two yards against the inside of Dean Kiely's right-hand post.

Then Jermaine Jenas scooped over the bar following a slick move involving Shearer and Laurent Robert.

The impressive French international peppered Kiely's goal at every opportunity.

But it was Charlton who went ahead after 30 minutes, against the run of play, when Andy O'Brien weakly headed Claus Jensen's lofted ball into Shaun Bartlett's path.

Bartlett shrugged off Titus Bramble's challenge to drive hard and low past goalkeeper Shay Given to register his first goal in 19 games, and Charlton's first goal away from home in five-and-a-quarter hours of league football.

But Bartlett's early birthday celebrations he weas 30 on Thursday proved to be a little premature.

Within seven minutes, Shearer laid the ball back to Andy Griffin on the right-hand corner of the penalty box and the young defender thumped a fiercely-hit shot high across Kiely and into the far top corner of the net.

Bartlett should have put the Addicks ahead two minutes later when he left the home defence flat-footed as he raced clear through with only the keeper to beat. But Bramble recovered and did just enough to knock the South African international off his stride.

Newcastle were more dominant in the second half and there was no surprise when they took the lead after a breathtaking move.

Shearer and Solano played a one-two before the latter worked the ball to Ameobi who twisted, turned and rolled the ball to Robert to drill the ball low past Kiely at his near post.

* Charlton entertain fellow strugglers Sunderland on Sunday.