Clark scrambles precious point for battling Magpies
NEWCASTLE UNITED 2 Smith (og, 59), Clark (82) BRISTOL CITY 2 Wilbraham (11), Cotterill (21)
NEWCASTLE UNITED showed fight as they came from two goals down to draw against struggling Bristol City.
The Robins took a surprise two-goal lead in the first half at St James’ Park through Aaron Wilbraham and David Cotterill, but an own goal from Korey Smith and a Ciaran Clark goal earned a vital point to keep Rafael Benitez’s men top of the Championship – at least for a few hours.
With trips to Brighton and Hove Albion, Huddersfield Town and Reading up next, three points at home to Bristol City were a must for promotion-chasing Newcastle.
However, they were punished for a sluggish start when Lee Johnson’s men silenced the St James’ Park faithful in the 11th minute.
Gary O’Neil found space on the right to swing a cross over to the back post where veteran striker Wilbraham was waiting unmarked to head past Karl Darlow.
There were appeals for offside from the Newcastle defence, but they fell on deaf ears. Eight minutes later, Deandre Yedlin made a last-ditch block
to stop Bobby Reid making it two with the Magpies’ backline seemingly all over the place.
Then in the 21st minute. things went from bad to worse for the hosts.
Newcastle keeper Darlow was caught out by Paul Dummett’s header back, leaving Bristol City David Cotterill winger with an easy finish into an open goal.
St James’ Park was in dismay at this point and that wasn’t helped by the fact that only Rotherham have taken fewer points away from home than Bristol City this season. Just after the half-hour mark Benitez’s side finally mustered a chance when Christian Atsu’s cutback found Ayoze Perez unmarked in the box.
However, the Spaniard’s shot was deflected away by a City defender
The frustration on Tyneside only got worse after the interval when appeals for a home penalty were dismissed by referee Chris Kavanagh.
Serbian striker Aleksander Mitrovic was bundled over by last man Aden Flint as he chased down Shelvey’s searching ball. Nevertheless, nothing was given.
The hosts piled on the pressure as they looked to get back into the game and finally broke the Robins’ resolve in the 59th minute.
Good work by Christian Atsu down the right saw the on-loan Chelsea man send a low ball across goal.
And Korey Smith sent the ball into his own net under pressure from Shelvey on the line.
A Cotterill free-kick almost restored the visitors’ two- goal lead moments later, but the diving Darlow did well to get a strong hand to the Bristol man’s effort.
At the other end, Fabian Giefer made a great stop to deny Matt Ritchie’s stinging shot before Mitrovic headed over from a corner.
Newcastle pushed and pushed for an equaliser – and it came with eight minutes left on the clock.
Clark got the final touch on Matt Ritchie’s corner to salvage a point for the hosts.