Carroll Inspires Geordie Fightback: Bristol City 2-2 Newcastle (Fan Report)

Two goals in four second half minutes earned Newcastle a deserved draw at Ashton Gate this evening. The Robins were 2-0 up at half time thanks to a tap in from Lewin Nyatanga and a screamer from Nicky Maynard but goals from Jonas Gutierrez and Andy Carroll earned the league leaders a point and moved them two points clear of second placed West Brom.

The game was lively and watchable throughout with both teams playing well in patches. The game started with Newcastle instantly forcing referee Andy D’Urso into making a penalty decision for a handball from a Wayne Routledge cross just 25 seconds into the game. The ref declined Newcastle’s protests despite replays showing that it clearly struck the defender’s hand and many referees would have pointed to the spot.

Newcastle started the game better than their opponents, who started the game in 17th position in the table. However Bristol didn’t play like they were a struggling side and shocked the 2000-plus travelling Toon Army by taking the lead through a Lewin Nyatanga tap-in. The referee was again involved as he awarded a very questionable free-kick to the Robins. Maynard struck the kick straight at Steve Harper but the keeper fumbled the shot and Nyatanga was the first (and only) one to react to put City 1-0 up.

From then on, Newcastle started to ask some questions of the home side’s defence but a counter attack from City seen Maynard put them 2-0 up. The man who has already won goal of the season this year cut in from the wing and blasted an unstoppable shot past Steve Harper in off the far post and sent Bristol into the break with a two goal cushion.

Chris Hughton’s side had a perfect chance to pull a goal back before the break when Danny Guthrie combined beautifully with Andy Carroll and rounded the keeper before his shot was blocked on the line by Paul Hartley.

The Geordies started the second half poorly and didn’t look like mounting any sort of comeback but all changed when a poor throw from Robins’ keeper Dean Gerken allowed Jonas Gutierrez to rob a defender and round Gerken to give Newcastle hope. Just four minutes later, the hope was turned into belief when a cracking ball from the ever impressive Jose Enrique allowed Wayne Routledge to centre for Andy Carroll to slide in and stick it past the helpless Gerken.

This ensured a nervy final 20 minutes for City and the Magpies could have won it when Leon Best powered a header on target, only to see Gerken tip it over brilliantly. This was Best’s only notable contribution to the match as the former Coventry striker had arguably his most ineffective game to date. He looked like a striker short on confidence and this showed in the first half at 0-0 when he should have scored a one-on-one but lacked composure and powered the shot at the keeper.

Before the game I’m sure Bristol would have took a point from the league leaders and at half time I’m sure the league leaders would have took a point from Bristol! In truth it was probably a fair result but Newcastle may feel they should have took all the points as they enjoyed the majority of possession and had more chances during the course of the game. However if it wasn’t for the fantastic performances from Jose Enrique, Danny Guthrie, Jonas Gutierrez, Wayne Routledge and Andy Carroll, they could have been walking away from Ashton Gate with nothing at all.

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