​Bristol City 2 Newcastle 2

 

 

CITY proved there is life after Gary Johnson by holding Championship leaders Newcastle to a draw in a thrilling encounter at Ashton Gate.

Thrust into the position of caretaker manager, Keith Millen took charge of his first game since the departure of former boss Johnson on Thursday and presided over a much-improved performance.

He made a number of changes in personnel, altered the shape of the team and saw his side play outstandingly well to forge a 2-0 half-time lead.

Welsh international defender Lewin Nyatanga scored his first goal for the club to give City a 10^th minute lead and top scorer Nicky Maynard hammered in a second shortly before the interval.

But an injury to Jamie McAllister disrupted the home side and a mistake from keeper Dean Gerken enabled Jonas Gutierrez to pull a goal back in the 70^th minute.

Newcastle were level four minutes later, England Under-21 star Andy Carroll netting his 15^th goal of the season to earn the Magpies a precious point in their quest for an instant return to the Premier League.

Roared on by their biggest crowd of the season, City withstood intense late pressure to secure their second draw of the season against the Toon.

In the run-up to the game, City chairman Steve Lansdown called for an end to the “negativity” which had pervaded the club in the weeks preceding Gary Johnson’s departure as manager. And sure enough, City fans responded, creating s crescendo of noise inside a packed Ashton Gate.

They almost had something to cheer in the third minute, Bradley Orr crossing left-footed to Danny Haynes, whose flicked header looped agonisingly over Steve Harper’s cross bar.

If City’s players had been adversely affected by the events of a tumultuous week, there was no sign of it as they took the game to the Championship leaders and imposed themselves from the start.

Pressure yielded a goal after just 10 minutes, Lewin Nyatanga scoring for the first time since his summer move from Derby County.

Wayne Routledge conceded a free kick in a dangerous position on the edge of his own penalty area and Paul Hartley rolled the ball into the path of Nicky Maynard, who struck a thunderous shot from 20 yards out. Harper dropped to his right to make the save, only for the ball to squirm out of his grasp and sit up invitingly for the in-rushing Nyatanga to score from close range.

City were well and truly in the ascendancy and Jamie McAllister, cutting in from the left, fired a volley narrowly over the bar.

Unbeaten in six games and a point clear of nearest challengers West Brom at the start of the game, Newcastle presented a threat on the counter-attack and imposing centre forward Andy Carroll went close to restoring parity with a firm header which sailed just wide of Dean Gerken’s goal.

City almost doubled their lead on 23 minutes, Hartley chipping a free kick towards the far post and Louis Carey making his 601^st career appearance, heading goal-wards, only to see Fitz Hall hook the ball off the line.

Adept at breaking quickly, the Magpies threatened to draw level when Leon Best unleashed a fierce drive which required keeper Gerken to make a startling save.

Newcastle were gradually turning the screw and Danny Guthrie was off target with another shot from range as City were forced to defend in depth. The visitors should have levelled matters four minutes before the break, Best nodding Danny Simpson’s deep centre into the path of Nolan, who contrived to direct his free header straight at the relieved Gerken with the goal at his mercy.

City went straight up the other end and scored a second goal. Carey won the ball on the edge of his own penalty area and sent a raking pass towards Maynard just inside the Newcastle half. City’s leading scorer set off on a searing run, which culminated in him cutting inside Jose Enrique and unleashing a spectacular drive beyond Harper’s despairing dive, the ball striking the inside of the post before coming to rest in the back of the net.

Maynard’s 14^th goal of the season was certainly one of his best and brought Ashton Gate to its feet.

There was still time for Newcastle to almost pull one back, Guthrie forcing his way deep into the 18 yard box, only to see his shot cleared by Nyatanga when he seemed certain to score.

It was not all plain sailing for City, however, and Millen was forced to make a change at the interval. Injured in the first half, McAllister was unable to continue and was replaced by Evander Sno, a substitution which saw the Robins revert to a flat back four.

Initially at least, the changes did not appear to disrupt City, who threatened a third goal when Haynes passed inside to Sno, whose first-time shot drew a sprawling save from Harper.

Newcastle boss Chris Hughton also made an enforced substitution seven minutes after the restart, replacing the injured Fitz Hall with Tamas Kadar.  And the new arrival made his presence felt almost immediately, letting fly with a powerful drive from range which required Gerken to make a smart save at full-stretch.

City were coming under increasing pressure and Gerken again had to be alert to pluck Carroll’s cross-cum-shot out of the rain-filled sky. He was again called into action moments later, displaying strong wrists to parry a stinging shot from Jonas Gutierrez.

But City’s keeper blotted his copybook in the 70^th minute, throwing the ball out to Skuse despite the close attendance of Gutierrez. Skuse was unaware of the Argentine’s presence and was robbed by Gutierrez, who rounded Gerken to put the Magpies back in the game.

Newcastle were level four minutes later, Routledge showing Bradley Orr a clean pair of heels and crossing for Carroll to side foot his 15^th goal of the season from eight yards out.

Having shifted completely, the momentum was now firmly with the visitors and Gutierrez, encouraged by his goal, embarked upon a mazy run which ended with him toe-poking a shot just wide of the target.

 City (3-5-2): Gerken; Ribeiro, Carey, Nyatanga; Orr, Skuse, Hartley, Elliott, McAllister (Sno, 46); Maynard, Haynes (Sproule 84).

Newcastle (4-4-2): Harper; Enrique, Hall (Kadar 52), Coloccini, Simpson; Routledge, Guthrie, Nolan, Gutierrez; Carroll, Best.

Referee: Andy D’Urso (Essex)                                                                                                                                              

Attendance: 19,144