THEY might have been out of luck on Sunday, but Gary Speed last night admitted that Newcastle are fortunate to still be in with a chance of Champions League qualification at all.

The Magpies dropped to fifth in the Premiership table last weekend after Andy O'Brien's late own goal condemned them to a 1-0 defeat at Tottenham.

Sir Bobby Robson was left fuming at the final whistle after United had dominated proceedings at White Hart Lane and seen a crucial penalty decision go against them in the first half.

But, while they had justified cause for complaint at the weekend, Speed was quick to dismiss suggestions that lady luck is deserting the Magpies at a crucial stage of the campaign.

"It's lucky that the league is the way it is this season or else we wouldn't even be in contention for fourth spot," admitted Speed.

"In any other year we'd have been out of the race by now so we've got to thank our lucky stars that we still have a chance.

"It's only because everyone around us is slipping up that we can still achieve what we set out to do this season.

"It's time to kick on now. There are 10 Premiership games to play and we have to pick up as many points as we possibly can. Charlton is a massive game on Saturday but it shouldn't be the six-pointer that it has become.

"We've let ourselves down this season and, if we'd played anything like we're capable of, we'd be well clear in fourth place."

O'Brien's last-gasp clanger was merely the latest in a worrying run of late goals Newcastle have conceded on their travels this year.

Stern John set the ball rolling with a 90th-minute equaliser for Birmingham in January, Blackburn youngster Jon Stead earned his side a point five minutes from time last month, and Lomana Lua Lua grabbed an 89th-minute leveller for Portsmouth two weeks ago.

Add the Spurs defeat to that list and United have thrown away seven points that would have taken them comfortably clear of Saturday's opponents Charlton.

The late errors could be down to either physical or mental fatigue but, either way, Speed knows they need to be cut out before they do irreparable damage to Newcastle's European ambitions.

"It's getting to be a bad habit now and it's happening too often," said the Wales international. "Whether it's a case of lacking fitness or lacking concentration I just don't know - but we have to stop that.

"We were comfortable for the majority of the game and it was only towards the end of the match that Tottenham put us under a little bit of pressure.

"We had defended well, we were creating the best chances and it looked as though we were the only team going to win it.

"But again in the last five minutes we let ourselves down with an individual error and it's not the first time this season we've thrown away valuable points away from home.

"We've played a lot worse this season, but I'd rather we were rubbish and picked up all three points."

Sunday's defeat may only have been Newcastle's third Premiership reverse on their travels this season but, after a remarkable nine draws, a tally of just two wins is perhaps a more revealing statistic.

United's last success on the road came at Fulham on October 21 and almost five months without an away win is placing immense strain on their fine form at St James' Park.

"It shouldn't be the case that we have to rely on our home form," said Speed. "If we can win our home games then we can still finish fourth, but it's high time we started picking points up on the road.

"We've only won two away from home in the league this season and that's poor.

"We won around half of our away games in the Premiership last season but it hasn't happened for us this time round."