LONDON, Oct 17: Newcastle United missed the chance to go fourth in the Premier League on Sunday when they were held 1-1 at Charlton Athletic.

Wales forward Craig Bellamy gave Graeme Souness's team the lead in the first half but Kevin Lisbie earned Charlton a point with an equaliser early in the second.

Newcastle climbed to eighth on 13 points, 12 adrift of leaders Arsenal who beat Aston Villa 3-1 on Saturday. Charlton are 10th on 12 points.

Bellamy put the visitors ahead after 39 minutes when full back Olivier Bernard curled in a fine cross from the left flank and the Welsh international reacted first to head past Charlton keeper Dean Kiely.

Lee Bowyer also had an effort ruled out for a foul and Newcastle deserved their lead at the break.

Six minutes into the second period, though, Lisbie fooled his marker Andy O'Brien and levelled the scores with a calm finish.

With rain streaming down, Charlton poured forward and Shay Given palmed away a fierce Danny Murphy drive and South African Shaun Bartlett fired just wide soon after.

Bellamy was substituted to his evident displeasure and in a frantic finish both Newcastle's Alan Shearer and Bartlett had efforts cleared off the line while Dennis Rommedahl and Matt Holland both struck the woodwork for Charlton.-Reuters