Keith Millen saw his first game as Bristol City caretaker manager end in an entertaining 2-2 draw at Ashton Gate infront of the Sky Sports cameras. Christian Ribiero made his league debut at the age of 20. There were also recalls for Paul Hartley and Danny Haynes infront of a vociferous 19,155 people inside Ashton Gate for the visit of Newcastle.
It was Haynes who was unlucky not to put City infront early on, but his header ended up nestling the top of the net. It would be City who would take the lead when Nicky Maynard's free kick was to hot to handle for Steve Harper and was parried out as far as Lewin Nyatanga who poked home his first goal for City after 10 minutes. Nicky Maynard would have his own say on the game as he ran through the Necastle defence before unleashing a stunning shot on the angle from the edge of the area to double City's lead on the stroke of half time. Paul Hartley's crucial goal line clearance in stoppage time was enough to keep City infront by 2 at the break.
Newcastle are not top of the league for nothing and a second half fight back was started after Dean Gerken's poor throw out left Cole Skuse unawares and Jonas Guiterrez ran through sidestepping Gerken before calmly putting the ball in the net with 20 minutes to go to and Newcastle went from strength to strength and it was no shock when they were level following Andy Carroll's finish from Wayne Routledge's cross just four minutes later. Paul Hartley's late free kick tested Harper but at the other end City defended solidly and the final whistle was met by cheers of delight and relief as City claimed an unexpected point.
An unchanged City side are lost 2-0 at Reading. The opening goal came after 12 minutes when Gylfi Siggurdson headed home past Dean Gerken. City had half chances at the start which came to nothing. Reading had a controversial penalty when Paul Hartley stuck out his leg and tripped Sigurdsson. He got up and converted the spot-kick to double Reading's lead and score his 12th of the season. Liam Fontaine was close to pulling one back before Sigurdsson was denied a hat trick by Paul Hartley's goal line clearance just after the half hour. Dean Gerken also denied Sigurdsson as he pushed further for a treble. Matt Mills was left unmarked in the last action of the first half but his header didn't go in.
City made two changes at half time with Akinde and Haynes replacing Iwelumo and Haynes. The second half saw City's best chance just after the break with Adam Federici denying Jamal Campbell-Ryce as City pushed forward. Shane Long missed a sitter seconds after following a quick free kick when Brian Howard passed the Irishman the ball. Jimmy Kebe had a further opportunity which Gerken squandered following an advantage when Louis Carey's tackle on Shane Long.
The defeat was an example of City's inconsistent performances of yet, following on from a solid performance at Crystal Palace.
First team opportunities for Gavin have been mostly from the bench this season with 13 of his 17 appearances as a substitute. He has scored one goal, a crucial last minute equaliser to force an F.A Cup replay against Cardiff in January.
Patrick Agyemang drops to the bench as Danny Haynes is back following illness. Gavin Williams,Ivan Sproule and Paul Hartley are also making way as Marvin Elliott, Lee Johnson and David Clarkson are introduced to the side. Nicky Maynard is on the bench following a dead leg suffered against Coventry at Ashton Gate.
City: Gerken, Orr, Nyatanga, Carey, Fontaine, Elliott, Johnson, Skuse, Haynes, Iwelumo, Clarkson
Subs: Maynard, Hartley, Collis, Williams, Sproule, Agyemang
City have lost again as Sheffield United won it with a pulsating second half display. City had gone into the break at 0-0 after some solid defending, Ivan Sproule had a shot straight at Blades Keeper Mark Bunn. That was nearly as good as it got from City as an attacking force. Debutant Chris Iwelumo was unlucky as he didn't get on the end of a scrappy chance in the area.
Sheffield United came out from the break raring to go and it took 4 minutes for them to break the deadlock. Senegalese striker Henri Camara, took a touch before running past the defence and unleashing a venomous shot into the top corner leaving Dean Gerken with no chance. The lead was doubled just after the hour as Darius Henderson took advantage of some slack marking to double the lead for the Blades. City fought on again and as at Watford on Tuesday the best chance came from a defender getting on the end of a set piece. This time it was captain Louis Carey who came closest rattling the crossbar from Paul Hartley's corner. There was a worrying moment as Liam Fontaine was knocked out following a clash of heads with Dean Gerken. Fontaine however did not wish to come off and played on. The score would of been more had it not been from City's stopper.
I watched the game on the internet and I thought first half City played well, they had a lot of the ball and when they didn't the defending was dogged and gritty. However as soon as Camara's goal went in it was a case of different week, same issues. The immediate enquiry between Orr,Carey and Fontaine in the penalty box told it's own story. We can't seem to test keepers of recent times and this is particularly worrying. The signing of Chris Iwelumo could be seen as the last throw of the dice by Gary Johnson and time must be running out faster by the result for him to sort out what is fast developing into a crisis at Ashton Gate.
| vs. |
| Ipswich Town | 2-0 | Bristol City |
| Team | Pld | GD | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | Nottingham Forest | 4 | -1 | 3 |
| 21 | Preston North End | 4 | -6 | 3 |
| 22 | Bristol City | 4 | -5 | 2 |
| 23 | Leicester City | 4 | -5 | 1 |
| 24 | Portsmouth | 4 | -5 | 1 |
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