MANAGER TALK

Keith Millen has refused to be drawn on whether he will apply for the Bristol City job on a full-time basis. The experienced coach, who has been part of the set-up at Ashton Gate for the past seven years, is currently in temporary charge of first-team affairs. Following Gary Johnson's exit last week, Millen has been installed as caretaker manager for the foreseeable future. His first game in that role saw him take a point off league leaders Newcastle in a 2-2 draw on Saturday. Despite making a positive impact during his short time at the helm, he insists he has given little thought to the prospect of throwing his hat into the ring. "I'm still thinking about the game at the moment," he said.
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REPORTS

City proved there is life after Gary Johnson by holding Championship leaders Newcastle to a draw in a thrilling encounter at Ashton Gate. Thrust into the position of caretaker manager, Keith Millen took charge of his first game since the departure of former boss Johnson on Thursday and presided over a much-improved performance. He made a number of changes in personnel, altered the shape of the team and saw his side play outstandingly well to forge a 2-0 half-time lead. Welsh international defender Lewin Nyatanga scored his first goal for the club to give City a 10th minute lead and top scorer Nicky Maynard hammered in a second shortly before the interval. But an injury to Jamie McAllister disrupted the home side and a mistake from keeper Dean Gerken enabled Jonas Gutierrez to pull a goal back in the 70th minute. Newcastle were level four minutes later, England Under-21 star Andy Carroll netting his 15th goal of the season to earn the Magpies a precious point in their quest for an instant return to the Premier League. Roared on by their biggest crowd of the season, City withstood intense late pressure to secure their second draw of the season against the Toon.
Bristol Evening Post

Some of football's big names such as Alan Curbishley, Phil Brown and Gareth Southgate have been mentioned as a possible replacement for Gary Johnson after his departure from Bristol City on Thursday but current caretaker manager, Keith Millen, was doing his own chances of getting the job no harm at all until the last 20 minutes of a thrilling game. City appeared to be cruising to only their third win in 13 attempts after first half goals from Lewin Nyatanga and Nicky Maynard but a terrible mistake from goalkeeper Dean Gerken let the Championship leaders back in and Andy Carroll ensured that they left Bristol with a point. With their new man in charge, City started brightly and went ahead ten minutes in using a free-kick which looked as if it had been messed up in its execution. But the Newcastle United wall didn't react quickly enough and Nicky Maynard's low shot was fumbled by Steve Harper allowing Lewin Nyatanga to poke in the rebound for his first ever City goal. Rumours had spread during the week that Johnson, who left after four and a half largely successful years at the helm, had lost the confidence of City's players, with one allegedly being involved in a dressing room incident with the outgoing manager at Tuesday's defeat at Plymouth, but those same players were certainly working hard for the caretaker boss.
Sunday Telegraph

Dean Gerken had his misjudgments cruelly exposed in front of a nationwide television audience as leaders Newcastle bounced back to claim a point. An outrageous blunder by the Bristol City keeper allowed the visitors back into the game after they had trailed by two goals at half-time. Newcastle United's Jonas Gutierrez celebrates his goal with team mate Fabricio Coloccini. Gerken threw a ball meant for defender Cole Skuse straight to Newcastle forward Jonas Gutierrez, who twisted round the keeper and shot home after 71 minutes. Newcastle went on to save the game when Andy Carroll drove in the equaliser four minutes later. It demonstrated just why Newcastle are heading for the Premier League and City are facing the possibility of relegation.
Mail on Sunday

Newcastle are still on course to celebrate a swift return to the Premier League, possibly as early as the Easter programme. They battled back from two goals down to extend their unbeaten run to eight matches, yet could have won in the final moments when Jonas Gutierrez twice went close. Bristol City parted company with manager Gary Johnson last week after just two wins in 12 matches, with Keith Millen taking charge. Defender Christian Ribeiro made his first league start for City, while Newcastle were without forward Peter Lovenkrands, who has been in such rich goalscoring form since the turn of the year, with an ankle injury. Leon Best replaced him. Lewis Nyatanga shocked the league leaders when he scored after 10 minutes and City were two up just before half-time when Nicky Maynard struck from the edge of the area. It was an unforced error that brought Newcastle back into the game. Dean Gerken threw the ball out to Cole Skuse and he was robbed by Gutierrez, who rounded the keeper to put the ball into an empty net. Wayne Routledge created the equaliser down the left when he slipped the ball through for Andy Carroll to finish. Best almost completed the comeback in the 83rd minute but his header was pushed over the bar by Gerken.
Sunday Times

Newcastle fans turned up at Ashton Gate dressed as a bunch of bananas - and Chris Hughton's side came close to slipping up. Andy Carroll's 15th goal of the season saved Newcastle's blushes in a stunning comeback to claim a point against managerless Bristol City. Trailing to Lewin Nyatanga and Nicky Maynard first-half strikes, the Toon looked to be heading for only a second defeat in 24 league games. But City got themselves in a right pickle after the break, following a horrendous mistake by keeper Dean Gerken - and the visitors took full advantage, with Jonas Gutierrez hitting back before Carroll's equaliser.
News of the World

Chris Hughton says games like this one teach him to take nothing for granted as he attempts to lead Newcastle back into the Premier League this season. It looked an away banker, yet the visitors were two goals down at the break to strikes from Lewis Nyatanga and Nicky Maynard as a spirited Bristol City side threatened to give their new caretaker manager, Keith Millen, a dream start. Second-half goals from Jonas Gutierrez and Andy Carroll rescued Newcastle and earned the Championship leaders a deserved point, but it was a relieved Hughton who spoke after the game. "We would have been most people's favourites going into the game, but we didn't get the win we wanted and that just shows that feet need to be kept firmly on the ground," said the Newcastle manager.
Independent on Sunday

Striker Andy Carroll's 75th-minute equaliser gave Toon a reward for a fighting second-half comeback. But it was rough on City's new caretaker-boss Keith Millen, who had looked set to mark his first game in charge with a victory. Goals from Lewin Nyatanga and Nicky Maynard put the home side in command at the break. But a bad error from otherwise brilliant goalkeeper Dean Gerken on 71 minutes gifted a goal to Jonas Gutierrez and Carroll pounced to level as City came under pressure. Gerken's poor throw out to Cole Skuse was intercepted by Gutierrez, who had a simple task to round the goalkeeper and change the course of the game. With the Robins still reeling, Wayne Routledge got behind their back line to cross for Carroll to shoot home and spark off wild celebrations among more than 2,000 travelling fans.
Daily Star Sunday

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. 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.
Northern Echo

Newcastle recovered from two goals down to snatch a well-earned point in a 2-2 draw at Bristol City. Lewin Nyatanga and Nicky Maynard got caretaker coach Keith Millen's reign at Ashton Gate off to the perfect start, but Jonas Gutierrez and Andy Carroll hit back for the Magpies. Nyatanga broke the deadlock after just 10 minutes, bundling home a rebound after Steve Harper could only parry an ambitious free-kick from Maynard. Maynard then doubled their lead a minute before half-time with a 20-yard thunderbolt which crashed in off the inside of the post. Newcastle raised their game after the interval and hauled themselves back into the game on 70 minutes when an almighty mix-up between Dean Gerken and Cole Skuse allowed Gutierrez the chance to steal in. Chris Hughton's side then completed a remarkable comeback five minutes later when the lively Wayne Routledge squared for the in-from Carroll to fire high into the net.
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