Source: Northern_Echo
Bristol City 2 Newcastle United 2
Bristol City 2 Newcastle United 2 DON'T Stop Believing boomed out of the visitors' dressing room after Newcastle's exciting action-packed draw with managerless Bristol City.[LNB] To most the Journey track is a truly wretched piece of work which drips in empty sentimentality something Newcastle fans have wrongly been accused of for years.[LNB] Yet the power ballad is fast becoming the soundtrack of the club's season. And not for the first time this term United did not stop believing, despite going two goals behind.[LNB] The team again displayed their grit, sadly absent from last season's relegation campaign, to force a draw against a spirited Robins side, in front of Ashton Gate's biggest crowd of the season.[LNB] Manager Chris Hughton hailed his side's fighting qualities immediately after the contest and acknowledged that his team do not know when they are beaten.[LNB] It's a been a characteristic of the team all season, said Hughton, who saw his team stretch their unbeaten run to eight.[LNB] If you look at our first goal, it was a bit fortuitous but you have to be in the right place at the right time.[LNB] Andy Carroll scored the second one. He's a player who is confident and in good goalscoring mood.[LNB] If I look at the two halves then I thought we dominated the second half. I thought they were better than us in the first half, but not by much.[LNB] They scored from a free kick and the second goal was absolutely wonderful. Sometimes you have to hold your hands up and say that.[LNB] We were always in the game and we had chances ourselves.[LNB] I thought Danny Guthrie was going to score before half-time so it wasn't a game they dominated.[LNB] I knew we would give a good show in the second half and I was very confident they would respond.[LNB] The United boss let it be known that a few harsh words were needed during his halftime team talk to get the promotion wagon back on track, but says it was done constructively.[LNB] You have to get into the players a little bit, said Hughton after he saw his side's lead at the top cut to two points. But you're also giving them an indication that if you play the game the right way there will be chances and spaces will open up. We always knew if we got the first one (after the break) we would get a second and that's how it panned out.[LNB] It was no surprise to see Carroll get Newcastle's second goal, his 14th of the campaign, to join Peter Lovenkrands as the club's top goalscorer.[LNB] It was also the fourth consecutive away fixture in which he has scored.[LNB] The 20-year-old striker grows in stature with every game and looks in pole position to be handed the club's famous No 9 jersey when the squad numbers are issued for next season's Premier League campaign.[LNB] He is playing very well at the moment, said Hughton who swerved the No 9 question when it was put to him.[LNB] He's contributing goals, which we've always wanted from him, and his all-round game is good.[LNB] It is a testament to him that he is developing as a young player. He is doing the right things and it is showing in his performances.[LNB] The same thing can't be said of his strike partner, Leon Best.[LNB] The 23-year-old frontman may have a decent first touch but at the moment he would struggle to hit a barn door with a banjo.[LNB] He needs a goal, said his manager. His contribution has been good but like all strikers he needs that goal to lift his confidence.[LNB] Quick-thinking Lewin Nyatanga pounced on Steve Harper's parry to net from close range to open the score, while Nicky Maynard netted an absolute beauty to give the hosts a two-goal cushion in an end-to-end, rip-roaring first half.[LNB] Carroll, Kevin Nolan, Guthrie and Best all missed good chances, but Newcastle drew level after the break .[LNB] Gutierrez took advantage of some slack play between goalkeeper Dean Gerken and Cole Skuse, before Carroll got on the end of Wayne Routledge's cross.[LNB] If it wasn't for the superb form of Robins' shotstopper, Gerken, the Magpies would have gone on to win at a canter.[LNB] The Newcastle journey isn't over yet, but a few more performances like this will make certain of their return to the Premier League.[LNB] Match facts Goals:[LNB] 1-0: Nyatanga (10, tapped home from close range after Harper parried Maynard shot)[LNB] 2-0: Maynard (44, cut inside Simpson and lashed in from just inside the 18-yard box)[LNB] 2-1: Gutierrez (70, the winger robbed Skuse and rounded Gerkin to score into an empty net)[LNB] 2-2: Carroll (75, slotted home from close range after Enrique and Routledge combined)[LNB] Bookings: McAllister (16, foul), Coloccini (45, foul), Guthrie ( 59, foul)[LNB] Referee: Andy D'Urso (Billericay) - The locals felt he was favouring the visitors but he showed his Premier League class throughout 8[LNB] Attendance: 19,144[LNB] Entertainment: [LNB] BRISTOL CITY (3-5-2): GERKEN 8, Orr 6, Carey 6 (McGuggan 78), Riberio 6, Nyatanga 6, McAllister 4 (Sno 45, 6) Skuse 4, Hartley 7, Elliott 6, Haynes 7 (Sproule 85) , Maynard 7. Subs (not used): Henderson (gk), Johnson, Akinde, Maierhofer, Agyemang[LNB] NEWCASTLE (4-4-2):[LNB] 5 Harper: Will be disappointed he didn't do better for the opening goal;[LNB] 5 Simpson: Positioning suspect in the lead up to City's second goal[LNB] 6 Coloccini: Answered most questions posed by the City front two[LNB] 6 Hall: Steady enough until he was forced off with hamstring injury[LNB] 5 Enrique: Well off the pace in the first half but much better after the break;[LNB] 6 Routledge: Not as effective when he switched wings with Gutierrez but still got yet another assist[LNB] 5 Nolan: Comfortable on the ball and should have netted in the first half[LNB] 5 Guthrie: Not as dominant as in recent games[LNB] 8 GUTIERREZ: Casts more spells than Gandalf[LNB] 7 Carroll: Another powerful display capped by yet another goal[LNB] 4 Best: Couldn't hit a barn door with a banjo at the moment.[LNB] Subs:[LNB] Kadar (for Hall 51) Cool, calm and composed on his introduction 6 (not used) Krul (gk), Pancrate, Ranger, Butt, Taylor R, Donaldson[LNB] MAN OF THE MATCH[LNB] JONAS GUTIERREZ City keeper Dean Gerken ran the Argentine a close second but the wing wizard was a constant threat.[LNB]
