United battle back to claim draw

20 March 2010 19:34
Newcastle may have had their lead at the top of the Championship cut to two points, after they drew at Bristol City and West Brom recorded a home victory over Preston. But they showed their title credentials with yet another performance of grit and determination to keep them on track for an immdediate return to the Premier League.[LNB] The Magpies battled back superbly to come from two goals down, in an action packed contest, to earn a share of the spoils. And they could have even won it at the end but for an outstanding show in the home goal by Dean Gerkin.[LNB] Former Sunderland loan defender Lewin Nyatanga and Nicky Maynard both scored for the hosts as managerless City took the honours in a rip-roaring incident packed first half - although the visitors had several opportunities to score themselves.[LNB] Caretaker boss Keith Millen's charges signalled a statement of intent as early as the second minute when Danny Haynes sent a looping header over Steve Harper from a Bradley Orr cross. And a moment later Haynes got the better of his marker but his shot was deflected over for corner.[LNB] But the Robins got the breakthrough after ten minutes following an innocuous challenge by Wayne Routeledge 20 yards out. Paul Hartley tapped a free-kick to Maynard and Steve Harper could only parry his thunderbolt to Nyatanga, who read the situation better than anyone else and followed up to net from close range.[LNB] Newcastle fought back and should have levelled and then took the lead but spurned three glorious opportunities soon after City took the lead.[LNB] Andy Carroll was the first guilty culprit when headed over Jonas Gutierrez's teasing cross at the back post eight minutes after the goal. Kevin Nolan then sent a shot over the bar before Leon Best fluffed his lines when goalscorer Nyatanga sliced a clearance ineptly into the air on the half hour.[LNB] United's profligacy continued when skipper Nolan headed weakly straight into the arms of Gerken from six yards after Best headed Guthrie's free-kick back across goal. And Newcastle paid for this wastefulness a minute before the break when a long ball over the top from former United starlet Orr had Simpson at sixes and sevens. Maynard took advantage of Simpson's poor positioning, cut inside his marker and unleashed a ferocious effort past Harper off the upright for the second.[LNB] Guthrie had a great chance to pull a goal back in injury time when he went around the goalkeeper from Carroll's pass but Hartley did well to clear off the line and back to his goalkeeper just as the match official blew for half-time.[LNB] The second half started lethargically. Efforts from both substitutes Evanda Sno, who shot tamely at Harper following good work from Maynard after three minutes, and Tamas Kadar, on for the injured Fitz Hall, who advanced 20 yards to bring off a a good save from Gerkin, were the only talking points before the game burst into life in the last 20 minutes.[LNB] Newcastle got themselves back into the game thanks to a gaff by goalkeeper Gerken. The goalkeeper threw the ball to Skuse when heavily marked by Gutierrez, who then robbed the player of the ball, went around the goalkeeper and netted. The City shotstopper will be kicking himself as only moments earlier, he pulled off a superb save from the Argentine's volley.[LNB] Five minutes later United had levelled when a rampaging run by Enrique set up Wayne Routeledge to cross for Carroll to score from eight yards.[LNB] The visitors, now in the ascendancy, pushed for a winner, and Best, Guthrie and Gutierrez were all stopped by fine Gerkin saves as City ran out of steam. But Newcastle could not find a way through and had to be content with a draw in the end.[LNB]

Source: Northern_Echo