Newcastle 1 Charlton 1

MANAGER Alan Curbishley confessed that Charlton's backs were against the wall following the loss of five players going into Saturday's match at Newcastle where the Addicks emerged with a point from a 1-1 draw.

He explained: "On Friday we lost Jerome Thomas, who was taken ill, while Jonathan Fortune, Bryan Hughes, Francis Jeffers and Mark Fish finished training with injuries. "I was thinking it was all going against us. All those who came in acquitted themselves well, especially Chris Perry who has been out injured since November.

"Our game plan was to still be in contention by half time, which we were. We also believed that with the pace we had in the side, we could do some damage.

"Unfortunately, we couldn't get the extra goal to take the three points. After getting beaten at home by Liverpool in midweek, we needed something from the match because this was the first of three away games."

He added: "It was a great point and I would like to think that in the second half we showed people what we're about."

Dennis Rommedahl celebrated his Charlton recall by scoring a spectacular 53rd minute equaliser seconds after Kieron Dyer had given Newcastle the lead. It was the Denmark international's second goal of the season.

Despite taking a point at a difficult venue, Charlton dropped to eighth place on Saturday night after Bolton's win at Crystal Palace.

Newcastle manager Graeme Souness, whose team were booed off at the end, admitted: "Charlton frustrated us with their game plan."

The Addicks now have a two-week break until their FA Cup fifth round tie against Leicester as Tottenham, Saturday's scheduled opponents, are involved in an FA Cup, fourth round replay with West Bromwich Albion.