NEWCASTLE United manager Bobby Robson last night questioned referee Rob Styles' decision to show a yellow card to winger Laurent Robert.

The booking handed out to Robert was his fifth of the season and he will now miss the clash with Middlesbrough on Boxing Day through suspension.

Mr Styles acted after the Frenchman went to ground in the box but Robson disagreed with the official's assumption that his £10m capture took a dive.

"I thought it was very questionable," said the Magpies' chief. "Laurent does not want to go down in the box, why would he?

"He does not take the penalties, Alan does, so why would he want to go down? He wants to score.

"It now means that he will be missing for one of our matches and that is disappointing."

The 1-0 victory at Portman Road means Newcastle remain in a Champions' League place, but the former Ipswich boss admits they still need another addition to the squad if they are to seriously challenge for the title.

"We did well here," said Robson, who guided the Tractor Boys to UEFA Cup success in the early 1980s. "But we still need another one player.

"We have still got Carl Cort out and we have got Kieron Dyer getting near to full fitness but we still need one other player.

"I won't say where but I feel we need that other player who can provide us with what we are missing."

Dyer's return to the fold came ironically at his hometown club, who sold him to Newcastle for £6m.

And Robson indicated that he brought the 22-year-old, whose last appearance was on February 24 at home to Manchester City, on to the field with ten minutes remaining so that he could play on his old ground.

"Last year I came here for the first time as a manager since I left and it was nice," said Robson. "This time it was Kieron's occasion and I threw him on for the nostalgic sense more than anything. He may not have had long and he is not fully fit yet but he is coming back and in another two weeks he should be right. He has his sights on the World Cup and he will be involved at Chelsea."

Newcastle go to Chelsea on Wednesday with aims of ending the 28-game winless run in London.

And the former England boss admits that when he also heard the news that his side had been drawn against Crystal Palace in the third round of the FA Cup he feared the worst.

"When I heard that we were playing Palace I immediately thought: 'Oh no!'. Fortunately it's at home."

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