MANAGER TALK

Several managers have been linked with the vacant manager's job at Ashton Gate, and in the Press Talk section, bcfc.co.uk will track all those rumours. It should be noted that publication in this section is only a reflection of what is published in the media, and not the view of the club.

Keith Millen insists he has yet to decide whether or not to throw his hat into the ring for the vacant Bristol City manager's job. Thrust into the role of caretaker boss following Gary Johnson's sudden departure last Thursday, the former Robins defender took charge of the first team for Saturday's Sky-televised encounter with Championship leaders Newcastle United. And despite making a good start to his second spell as a caretaker boss at Ashton Gate and guiding City to a creditable 2-2 draw against the top side in the second tier, Millen claims he has not had time to consider his long-term future. "I'm not thinking that far ahead," said Millen. "I have enough on my plate just with picking a team to play Barnsley on Tuesday. That is honestly as far as I'm thinking." A number of out-of-work managers with Premier League experience, Steve Coppell and Alan Curbishley among them, have been linked with the vacancy, but Millen is the man currently in possession and, providing City continue to pick up points and perform as they did against Newcastle, he could yet emerge as a strong contender to be the next manager. In the meantime, he is playing his cards close to his chest.
Bristol Evening Post

REPORTS

If Keith Millen wants to be considered a serious candidate for the managerial post so recently vacated by Gary Johnson, he could hardly have done more to push his case. True, his reign as caretaker boss would have been better had his side held on to the two-goal advantage afforded them by Lewin Nyatanga and Nicky Maynard in the first half. But in the aftermath of a turbulent week in which they lost to Reading and Plymouth and parted company with their most successful manager in a generation, City would no doubt have settled for a point beforehand. With Johnson gone, all eyes were suddenly turned in the direction of his erstwhile assistant and a group of players who could no longer pass the buck and hide behind the coat-tails of a manager who divided opinion. Ashton Gate's biggest crowd of the season was understandably apprehensive and those inclined to a negative point of view feared another debilitating home defeat, this time at the hands of the rampant Championship leaders.
Bristol Evening Post

Newcastle boss Chris Hughton told his players to stay realistic after receiving this fright from Bristol City. Hughton's Championship leaders were two goals down and struggling to find their rhythm against a City side who were trying to impress after losing manager Gary Johnson last week. Stand-in boss Keith Millen saw his side roar into a two-goal half-time lead through a Lewin Nyatanga tap-in and a stunning strike from 14-goal top scorer Nicky Maynard. But a misjudged throw-out by goalkeeper Dean Gerken gifted Jonas Gutierrez a goal after 71 minutes and Newcastle's second-half dominance was rewarded when Andy Carroll scored the equaliser four minutes later.
Daily Express

Resolve is not a word that has been associated with Newcastle in recent years. They famously lost the mind games with Manchester United 14 years ago and surrendered a 12-point lead and the Premiership title, and the team who sloped out of the Barclays Premier League last season did not show much mental toughness. But this campaign, things are different. This Newcastle team do not know when they are beaten, a point perfectly illustrated when they came from 2-0 down to draw. That resolve is the main reason they are 10 points clear of third-placed Nottingham Forest and all but back in the top flight, and nobody typifies their belief more than striker Andy Carroll. The England Under 21 centre forward scored Newcastle's equaliser and said: "Being 2-0 down at half-time was disappointing. We had to come out and show what we are made of and we did."
Daily Mail

Andy Carroll reckons the Toon's latest Houdini escape act shows how determined they are to get back into the Premier League. The striker fired a 75th-minute leveller to complete a stunning comeback from 2-0 down at Ashton Gate. And the 15-goal ace says the spirit in Chris Hughton's camp makes them feel invincible at the top of the table. Carroll, 22, said: "Being 2-0 down at half-time was disappointing. We had to come out and show what we're made of - and we did."
The Sun

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 Lewin 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

A bad week for favourites in the South West was about to get worse. A Newcastle United side missing its most prolific striker, its midfield insurance man and now Fabricio Coloccini's first, second and third-choice central defensive partners was trailing 2-0 in going made treacherous by the pouring rain. The Magpies were heading the way of so many well-fancied horses at the Cheltenham Festival earlier in the week. Despite heading the field with something to spare, United have form for this. Antiquated Ashton Gate would only join Scunthorpe and Derby as venues where they had blown up against the odds. But Chris Hughton's side have trained on ever since February's embarrassment at Pride Park. Filled with the confidence built over their sprint to the final hurdle, they possess a resilience which had them threatening to push their noses in front when Saturday night's finishing line came into view. "Newcastle United will never be defeated" has been a popular chant on the St James' Park terraces this season. Now the players look as though they believe it.
Journal Live

Newcastle United manager Chris Hughton says the 2-2 draw at Bristol City is just the wake-up call his side needs heading into the final few weeks of the Championship season. First-half goals from Lewin Nyatanga and Nicky Maynard put City in charge at Ashton Gate in the Saturday teatime kick-off. But strikes inside the final 19 minutes from Jonas Gutierrez and Andy Carroll salvaged a point for the Magpies. Newcastle are now 10 points clear of third place with nine games to go, but Hughton said: "Games like this teach you to keep feet firmly on the ground."
Shields Gazette

OTHER NEWS

The Bristol 2018 bid team say Gary Johnson's departure should not affect plans to host games. Bristol City's boss stood down last week from the Championship side. This weekend, a giant flag arrived in the city to help promote the "Back the England Bid" campaign. Stephen Wray, from the bid team told us Johnson's departure won't affect plans for Bristol to host the cup: "Of course we all want Bristol City to be successful. We want Bristol Rovers, the rugby club and the cricket club to be successful because the more we've got professional clubs operating at a top level, the more chance we have of bringing big events to the city."
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