Newcastle recovered from two goals down to snatch a well-earned point in a 2-2 draw at Bristol City.
City begin life after Gary Johnson with a point against leaders
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.
City began brightly and Danny Haynes headed Bradley Orr's cross onto the roof of the net before United defender Fitz Hall had to block another Haynes effort.
Pressure
The home side's early pressure was rewarded when Paul Hartley tapped a free-kick to Maynard 22 yards from goal.
His rasping shot was too hot for Harper to handle as he fumbled and allowed Nyatanga to slot in the rebound for his first City goal.
Newcastle's first sign of goal came when Gutierrez crossed for Carroll but the big frontman headed narrowly over the top when he should perhaps have done better.
City survived a scare when Nyatanga sliced horribly in his own box but a combination of Gerken and Louis Carey blocked Leon Best's volleyed effort.
Gerken was also alert as half-time approached, Best nodding the ball back across goal for Kevin Nolan who could only head the ball straight at the former Colchester man.
Newcastle were made to pay minutes later when Maynard doubled the advantage in style.
Launched
Orr launched a ball over the top that the frontman did well to keep in play on the left wing, before cutting across the penalty area where he curled the ball into the far corner at pace past a helpless Harper.
Hughton's men thought they had reduced City's lead in added time when Danny Guthrie went round Gerken and tried to slot home but Hartley darted in at full throttle to keep the shot out.
Millen made a change at half-time with Jamie McAllister, who was booked in the first half, replaced by Evander Sno and the substitute tested Harper soon after.
Hall made way with a knock in the 50th minute with Tamas Kadar coming on and he forced Gerken into a stop as the rain came down at Ashton Gate and the ball fizzed off the surface.
Routledge sent a 70th-minute effort into orbit as Newcastle searched for a way back into the game and Gerken thwarted Gutierrez's rasping effort.
But seconds later the Argentinian made Gerken pay for a slip, the stopper innocently rolling the ball out to Skuse before Gutierrez nipped in on the blindside to roll the ball in.
Newcastle were level 15 minutes from time when Carroll swept in Routledge's pass and the momentum was firmly with the league leaders.
Gerken made amends with a fingertip side to deny Best as Newcastle upped the ante but they failed to find a late winner and sit two points clear at the top with a game in hand on second-placed West Brom.
