IT is no secret that Sir Bobby Robson and Alan Shearer haven't quite seen eye to eye lately.

A relationship seemingly akin to father and son when Robson took charge of Newcastle four-and-a-half years ago appeared more like Steptoe and Son last month.

In his own very public words, Shearer complained he was "angry and disappointed'' to be omitted from the side for the UEFA Cup away leg against Valerenga.

Both parties have since insisted there is no problem between them, and if Shearer's brilliantly belligerent performance on Saturday was any kind of indicator, it would seem all is well again at St. James' Park.

After this full-blooded contest, Shearer confirmed what we already knew, that next season will be his last as a player and that he plans to bow out in a blaze of glory.

A burning desire to end his career at the top, prowling with predatory intent in Europe's most rarefied arenas, was there for all to witness as the 33-year-old striker faced down the challenge of Charlton.

Alan Curbishley's Premiership upstarts had started the day in the much-prized fourth place that guarantees a route into the Champions League.

But with Liverpool having beaten Wolves to usurp the Addicks, a Shearer-inspired Newcastle then nudged them down to sixth with a display that Robson acclaimed as his side's best on home soil this season.

Whatever differences they may have had, Robson has never been slow to praise Shearer.

And the Magpies' boss dubbed his captain "Hercules'' after a tour de force that was reminiscent of Shearer in his mid-90s pomp.

The skipper gave his side the perfect start when he stooped to head in Laurent Robert's pinpoint centre after just 57 seconds.

It was Shearer's first Premiership goal in open play for 13 hours 27 minutes since he struck in the 1-0 home win over Leeds on January 7.

By the end he had hoisted his seasonal goal tally to 22 when he reacted first to score from the rebound after Dean Kiely had touched his controversial penalty on to a post 13 minutes from time.

Shearer, ably supported by Shola Ameobi in the absence of hamstring injury victim Craig Bellamy, received some fearful treatment from Charlton's defence and should have been afforded greater protection by referee Mike Riley.

But, ultimately, Shearer gave as good as he got and Robson said: "Alan is brilliant at standing firm and saying: 'This is my ground.' He must have had six or seven amazing decisions against him where he wouldn't give up his territory.

"Our two strikers were superb. Shola was fantastic and Alan was Hercules.

"The only thing Shola didn't do was score and he should have done when he got on the end of a Shearer header and went for the spectacular instead of being sure. Shola played so well that Bellamy wasn't missed.

"But we got a fantastic performance from every player and they all played to their potential.''

Ameobi's dogged determination brought Newcastle their second goal in the 34th minute when he latched on to Shearer's knockdown and held possession before poking the ball across the face of goal where Luke Young's attempted clearance ricocheted in off Jermaine Jenas.

But Charlton hit back nine minutes into the second half when Claus Jensen capitalised on a rare lapse by Jenas and midfield partner Gary Speed.

Jensen sprayed the ball out to a largely anonymous Paolo Di Canio, who found Paul Konchesky on the left.

And when the cross arrived in the middle, Newcastle centre-back Titus Bramble - who came on at half-time after Aaron Hughes suffered a calf injury - failed to head clear and Jensen left Olivier Bernard standing to fire in first time.

Ameobi then sliced woefully wide after being set up by Shearer, before Shay Given's instinctive brilliance at the other end denied Carlton Cole and Chris Perry.

The Republic of Ireland keeper's stop from Perry - he was completely unsighted but still managed to turn the ball on to a post - was hailed by Robson as a contender for save of the season.

It's importance was underlined a minute later when Robert went down in the box under Perry's challenge, Kiely performed a similar feat to Given from the penalty - and Shearer pounced.

But Charlton were furious, claiming Robert had taken a dive. Curbishley angrily confronted the Frenchman on the touchline at the final whistle, and later expressed his feelings with more restraint to Mr Riley.

He said: "I have to choose my words wisely, but as soon as I saw Robert running at Chris Perry full pelt, I was expecting something to happen.

"I thought the referee had a fantastic game because it's a difficult place to ref, but I think he got it wrong and I said that to him in the proper way.''

Perry stuck out a leg and there was definite contact, but Robert's fall looked a little theatrical and the centre-back said: "I feel he dived.

"He ran into me - I don't think that's the way the game should be played.''

Robson admitted it might have been "questionable'' and promised to review the incident.

But he stressed: "All the managers in English football are honest, genuine people who demand fairplay. We don't ask people to dive.

"I'll look at it and I'll say whatever I have to say to Laurent Robert.

"But all great players play for penalties - George Best and Jimmy Greaves did that.''

And Robson can be grateful that he still has one of the all-time greats at his disposal in the incomparable Shearer.

Result: Newcastle United 3 Charlton Athletic 1.

Read more about Newcastle United FC here.