JERMAINE JENAS cut a frustrated figure after Newcastle's disappointing home draw.

The 21-year-old admitted Saturday's game against a spoiling Charlton side was just as exasperating for the players as it was for the fans and pleaded with United supporters to be patient and get behind their team.

Jenas played in a narrow Magpies midfield and said he found the Addicks a tough nut to crack.

"They came here and we knew they were going to make it difficult for us," admitted Jenas, who was named in England manager Sven Goran Eriksson's squad for Wednesday's international against Holland at Villa Park.

"They packed out the midfield and their defence was very strong and very compact. We knew that we were going to have to be patient. That's what we were and we got our reward just after half- time."

United fell foul of their usual nemesis less than a minute after Kieron Dyer scored when a lack of concentration and control by Andy O'Brien led to Dennis Rommedahl equalising. It was the 12th time the Magpies have thrown away a lead this season

Jenas admitted boss Graeme Souness had warned his side about letting a lead slip.

"After we scored we needed to be even more resilient but we weren't and we were punished for it," he said.

"The gaffer mentioned about not throwing leads away last week and we know that's something we need to improve on.

"We need to start carving out a few 1-0 wins. We've been in this position before, where we've got the first goal and we need to start holding on to those leads. The best teams in the league can win 1-0, even if they're under a bit of pressure. That's what we need to start doing.

"Mentally, conceding the goal was a massive blow to us. We had to pick ourselves up after that and we didn't really do it until the last few minutes. But it's difficult to take anything away from Charlton. They played well, but we were probably our own worst enemies."

With Addicks' fans suggesting Souness is in line for the sack in a cheeky song and the United supporters sending their side from the pitch with a cacophony of boos and whistles, it does not take a rocket scientist to work out these are testing times for both the team and the manager.

Jenas says he understands the fans' frustration and expectancy levels but asked the supporters to get behind the team.

"The reaction from the crowd was expected," Jenas admitted. "It's a big club and both the fans and the players know where we are. They get frustrated, just like the players get frustrated. It's important that the fans stay behind us and try to stay positive, because what they do sometimes gets projected on to the pitch. Obviously, they're a bit nervous, but we've got some great supporters here."

With Charlton intent on getting as many players behind the ball as possible in a stifling 4-5-1 formation, United found there was little space to manoeuvre as a narrow midfield four. Jenas revealed just how tricky it was.

"It was very difficult in the first half, because you're trying to find passes when the gaps aren't there," said United's £5m buy from Nottingham Forest.

"You're passing it around, but they're coming out and closing you down. You're trying to hit your forwards, but they've got that closed off as well. They were sitting on the edge of their 18-yard box and, in hindsight, we should have got a few more wide balls and whipped in a few more crosses.

"We managed to do that a bit in the second half and it caused them a few more problems. I tried to get out wide myself a few times in the first half, to pull a few defenders out of the middle, because it was so packed in there. Even if I didn't get the ball, I thought I could pull one or two with me.

"But the danger in doing that is that you leave massive holes in the middle and that's a problem if you lose the ball.

"It's really frustrating because we seem to get a few wins and then the run gets knocked on the head. We saw that at Man City, where we went a goal up and couldn't hold onto it. The same has happened here. I don't want to stand here and keep saying we've turned the corner, because it's been a long flipping corner."

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