Alan Shearer completed his Premiership double century to take Newcastle to within a point of Champions League qualification.

The former England skipper collected his 200th goal with just a minute remaining to confirm his side's victory over Charlton.

But it was young strike partner Lomana LuaLua, the hero of last Saturday's remarkable win at Derby, who stole the show with a performance full of trickery and enterprise.

The Democratic Republic of Congo frontman followed up Gary Speed's 21st-minute opener with a superb strike just seconds after the restart, and celebrated with a breathtaking tumble as Newcastle edged closer to a top-four finish.

However, the scoreline did not really reflect a game which was never over until the final whistle.

The difference between the two sides was the quality of their finishing as hard-working Charlton failed too make the most of their share of possession.

For all Newcastle were at times uncomfortable at the back, their work in front of goal was lethal, and it was that which won the day to send the Toon Army home wreathed in smiles.

The air of expectation hanging over St James' Park has proved something of a a hindrance in recent weeks and they again failed to hit the heights in the first-half despite enjoying a healthy share of the possession.

That was in part due to the efforts of Charlton, who packed the midfield and left just Jason Euell up front, allowing central trio Graham Stuart, Mark Kinsella and Scott Parker to press the ball and make life difficult for Newcastle's runners.

Even the tricky LuaLua, making his first start of the season, and Kieron Dyer, found great difficulty in shaking off their markers, while their defensive colleagues looked edgy.

However, they could have been in front with less than two minutes gone when Shearer exchanged passes with LuaLua and fired in a shot which Dean Kiely had to turn away at full stretch.

Laurent Robert tested the Charlton keeper with a viciously swerving long-range free-kick, but in the meantime, John Robinson had shot just wide after full-back Luke Young had been allowed to carve his way into the penalty area to set him up.

Newcastle finally got their noses in front with 21 minutes gone when Shearer's industry earned his side a corner which Nolberto Solano served up invitingly for Speed to power a header past Kiely.

But the visitors could have been back on terms twice within minutes with Parker forcing a good save form Given and then toe-poking a second shot wide.

And they wasted a gilt-edged opening on the stroke of half-time when Sylvain Distin failed to react quickly enough to mop up after Andy O'Brien had cut out Stuart's long ball, but Jonatan Johansson sent his cross aimlessly across goal and nowhere near another red shirt.

It took Newcastle just 44 seconds of the second-half to double their lead as LuaLua collected Robbie Elliott's long ball and expertly turned his man before thumping a shot past Kiely.

His tumbling celebration was a step up from the one he produced at Derby last week and lit the touch paper for the carnival the home fans had been waiting to start.

However, the visitors continued to press as the Magpies again looked uncertain at the back, Euell firing high and wide after being put in by Johansson and Shay Given having to sprint from his line to clear O'Brien's ill-judged back-pass as Johansson closed.

Charlton had a Paul Konchesky strike chalked off for offside, but United rallied and created three good opportunities within minutes.

Solano just failed to put both Dyer and LuaLua in on goal on 64 minutes with the Charlton defence at sixes and sevens and Young just got in front of Shearer as he prepared to thump home a Solano cross.

But it was LuaLua who went close 15 minutes from time when he cut inside and rifled in a right-foot shot which Kiely palmed away.

Shearer passed up a glorious opportunity five minutes from time after being put through by LuaLua's back-heel, but he made no mistake four minutes later when Speed split the defence and the 31-year-old slotted past Kiely from 18 yards.

Teams

Newcastle Given, Hughes, O'Brien (Dabizas 70), Distin, Elliott, Solano (Jenas 78), Dyer, Speed, Robert (Bernard 78), Shearer, Lua-Lua.

Subs Not Used: Harper, Bellamy.

Booked: Bernard.

Goals: Speed 22, Lua-Lua 46, Shearer 89.

Charlton Kiely, Young, Rufus, Costa, Konchesky, Stuart, Kinsella, Parker (Lisbie 73), Robinson, Johansson, Euell (Fortune 90).

Subs Not Used: Bart-Williams, Brown, Ilic.

Booked: Costa, Parker.

Att: 51,360

Ref: M Dean (Cheshire).