Source: FOOTYMAD
Two Points Dropped Not A Disaster
Albion and Forest won, and we drew at Ashton Gate ... but the fighting display in a "never say die" second-half performance had Toon fans happy enough on the long journey home. CHAMPIONSHIP Bristol C 2 Newcastle 2West Brom 3 Preston 2Nottm Forest 1 P'borough 0QPR 1 Swansea 1Doncaster 1 Sheff Utd 1Middlesbrough 1 Reading 1Blackpool 2 C Palace 2Ipswich 1 Barnsley 0Sheff Weds 0 Derby 0Scunthorpe 2 Plymouth 1 Newcastle came from two goals down to snatch a priceless point from a 2-2 draw against managerless Bristol City - but had their lead cut at the top. The Magpies looked down and out after Lewin Nyatanga and Nicky Maynard fired the hosts into a commanding lead at the break. But a mistake from the otherwise flawless Robins goalkeeper Dean Gerken allowed Jonas Gutierrez to reduce the deficit before Andy Carroll levelled with his 15th goal of the campaign. West Brom earlier consolidated second place with a 3-2 win over Preston at The Hawthorns. The Baggies got off to a flying start and found themselves two goals up inside nine minutes thanks to Ben Watson and Chris Brunt. Preston got themselves back into the game when Sean St Ledger headed home after 15 minutes, but Graham Dorrans made it 3-1 soon after only for Neil Mellor to again reduce the arrears for North End shortly before the break. Scott Carson made a fine save from former Baggies player Richard Chaplow and Watson, Gabriel Tamas and Ishmael Miller threatened strongly for the hosts in the second half, but it remained 3-2. Third-placed Nottingham Forest kept up the pressure with a 1-0 win over rock-bottom Peterborough. Rob Earnshaw netted his 13th goal of the season after 12 minutes to put Billy Davies' side in charge at the City Ground. Chris Cohen struck a post from long range and Garath McCleary also went close as Forest remained the more likely team to score in the second half. Play-off chasing Doncaster were pegged back by a late equaliser from South Yorkshire rivals Sheffield United. James Hayter opened the scoring early on for Rovers to pile more away-day misery on the Blades, who had lost their previous six games in the league on their travels. But Andy Taylor crossed for James Harper to fire home for United two minutes from time and earn a point. Crystal Palace missed out on a win to boost their survival hopes after they dominated the first half against Blackpool but squandered a two-goal advantage after the break. Nick Carle put Paul Hart's men ahead after three minutes and Darren Ambrose doubled the advantage in the 34th minute. But Charlie Adam fizzed in a fine goal two minutes after the break and the Scot's cross led to Ben Burgess turning in a late close-range equaliser. Martyn Woolford's superb strike settled the relegation scrap between Scunthorpe and Plymouth at Glanford Park in the hosts' favour. Jamie Mackie put Argyle ahead after 28 minutes but their joy was short-lived as Garry Thompson netted an equaliser just four minutes later and Woolford then fired home a second-half winner from 25 yards. Ipswich needed just four minutes to take the lead against Barnsley as Daryl Murphy gave Roy Keane's men a flying start at Portman Road - and 1-0 was how it remained. Middlesbrough were held 1-1 by in-form Reading at the Riverside, Chris Killen's opener cancelled out by David Wheater's own goal. The points were also shared on former QPR boss Paulo Sousa's return to Loftus Road where Antonio German bundled in from close range to cancel out Nathan Dyer's opener for Sousa's Swansea. Sheffield Wednesday and Derby shared a goalless draw at Hillsborough.
