Bristol City captain Louis Carey admitted he and his teammates were their own worst enemies after "gifting" Sheffield United the points in this tumultuous Coca-Cola Championship encounter. Sat in the dressing room after the dust had finally settled, Bristol City's players must have wondered how on earth they contrived to throw away a game they dominated for such long periods. Called upon to atone for last week's 4-1 defeat at West Bromwich Albion, Gary Johnson's team produced a much-improved performance, only to fall foul of the kind of individual mistakes no manager can legislate for. Just as they did at The Hawthorns seven days earlier, City proved architects of their own downfall, handing their opponents a two-goal lead in the first half. Darius Henderson punishing schoolboy errors from keeper Dean Gerken and centre-back Jamie McCombe in the space of three minutes to steal a two-goal advantage which his team's display scarcely warranted.
Bristol Evening Post

It had stood for 11 long months and 19 matches, so it was always going to take something special to shatter Bristol City's remarkable unbeaten league record at Ashton Gate. But a first hat-trick of his professional career enabled Darius Henderson to oblige and play an impeccable lead during 95 minutes of footballing theatre.
Sheffield Star

Sheffield United manager Kevin Blackwell labelled Darius Henderson 'the best striker in the Championship' after watching him shatter Bristol City's 11-month unbeaten record at Ashton Gate. Henderson claimed the first-hat-trick of his career with a dramatic injury-time goal after Alvaro Saborio's late effort appeared to have secured a point for the hosts. Blackwell, whose team were last night handed a home tie against Queens Park Rangers in the FA Cup third round, heaped praise upon the United hero's shoulders. "There's no one better in the division," Blackwell said.
Sheffield Star

Darius Henderson dedicated his first hat-trick to his three children after stunning City with almost the last kick of the game. The Blades striker found the back of the net with a low shot just 15 seconds after his side had kicked-off, having been pegged back by Alvaro Saborio's stoppage time equaliser. It completed an unforgettable day for Henderson, who quickly had the match ball autographed and paraded it proudly before boarding the team coach, "The hat-trick was for my kids, Kai, Hogan and Brody," he said. "I've waited a long time to be able to dedicate three goals in a game to them and it's a special feeling.
Mirror

Nicky Maynard has revealed that his biggest embarrassment in life was when he was mistaken for pop diva Leona Lewis! The Robins striker said: "I blame my cornrows hairstyle at the time." Yet after this game's uncharacteristic calamity - triggered by Darius Henderson's first ever hat-trick - Maynard AND his City pals face greater embarrassment. And they will surely feel they have lost their own promotion X-Factor. Having clawed out an injury-time Alvaro Saborio leveller after Louis Carey's opener, sloppy City surrendered the points just 20 seconds later to the last kick of the game. That meant not only did they lose their proud unbeaten home record stretching back to last December but they now find themselves floating in mid-table obscurity. No wonder boss Gary Johnson was seething. He groaned: "What a gut-wrencher."
The Sun

Gary Johnson was not in the least bit surprised when his Bristol City side came out of the hat alongside arch rivals Cardiff in the draw for the third round of the FA Cup. The Severnside rivals will meet at Ashton Gate on the weekend of January 2-3 in a third-round tie which is sure to prove popular with supporters of both clubs. And, coincidentally, Bristol City's boss just happened to be in the boardroom at Cardiff's new stadium when the draw was made at Wembley Stadium yesterday afternoon. "I knew it would be Cardiff from the moment they began making the draw," said Johnson, who took the opportunity to run the rule over next Saturday's opponents, Ipswich Town, when they played the Bluebirds in the Welsh capital.
Bristol Evening Post

Gary Johnson was at Cardiff City Stadium watching the FA Cup draw yesterday - as Bristol City landed a draw against pal Dave Jones' team. Bristol City play Ipswich Town in a Championship match at Ashton Gate next Saturday and Johnson drove across to watch yesterday's match with assistant boss Keith Millen. The Bluebirds were given an away tie against Bristol City at Ashton Gate. "How ironic is that?" said Johnson. "It's nice to be at home and it's a local derby to look forward to at the beginning of the new year."
Wales Online

Gary Johnson will today hold talks with Adriano Basso which could spell the end of the goalkeeper's Bristol City career. Upset by comments attributed to the Brazilian by Sky Sports on Friday, Bristol City's manager responded by leaving Basso out of the squad for Saturday's Coca-Cola Championship clash with Sheffield United at Ashton Gate. Former Republic of Ireland Under-21 keeper Stephen Henderson was called up to the bench to serve as cover for first-choice Dean Gerken and Basso was told to stay away from the stadium. Out of contract at the end of the season and placed on the transfer list at his own request in August, Basso is refusing to sign a new deal. He chose the eve of Saturday's game to make public his desire to join another club on loan when the transfer window reopens in January. He also repeated his intention to leave Ashton Gate at the end of the season. His pronouncement came just 24 hours after Johnson offered Basso a way back in an interview with the Evening Post. He explained: "To be honest, I was very surprised by what Basso said and I'll be talking to him about it on Monday."
Bristol Evening Post