Newcastle run riot at beleaguered Blades

From start to finish, Newcastle ran riot at Bramall Lane, notching a record-breaking 8-0 victory over the struggling Blades, with Paul Heckingbottom set to feel the heat in the coming days. 

LINEUPS

SHU XI: Foderingham; Ahmedhodzic, Egan*, Robinson; Bogle, Hamer, Norwood, Souza, Thomas; McAtee; Archer

SHU SUBS: Davies, Trusty, Basham, Larouci, Seriki, Brooks, Davies, Ben Slimane, Traore

NEW XI: Pope; Trippier*, Schar, Botman, Burn; Longstaff, Guimaraes, Anderson; Almiron, Wilson, Barnes

NEW SUBS: Dubravka, Lascelles, Targett, Livramento, Hall, Tonali, Murphy, Gordon, Isak

Action: Sheffield United started quite brightly at Bramall Lane with The Blades having a couple of early opportunities, thanks largely to the spark that James McAtee has provided the Yorkshire club.

Jayden Bogle got in down the right-hand side and crossed for left wing-back Luke Thomas, on loan at Leicester, but the defender saw his effort blocked by Fabian Schar. Thomas then had another opportunity when some agile play from McAtee was followed by a cross to the back post but he skewed a volley wide.

After that, though, it was fairly humiliating Newcastle United dominance for the rest of the first-half as The Magpies threatened to really run riot against the struggling newly-promoted side.

They opened the scoring mid-way through the half when Anthony Gordon managed to keep the ball in play, albeit helped by the use of his hand, before pulling back for Sean Longstaff and the midfielder swept confidently with his left foot past Wes Foderingham.

Miguel Almiron had an effort tipped over by Foderingham after Fabian Schar had deflected it. From the resultant corner, Newcastle doubled their lead as an excellent, deep delivery found a stooping Dan Burn.

Newcastle nearly made it three when Anthony Gordon soon set up Callum Wilson, with his shot saved. They didn’t have to wait long to get that third, though, as Sven Botman headed home from a Kieran Trippier free-kick. 

Wilson had yet another opportunity to get a goal but both he and the energetic Gordon had chances well saved by Foderingham, once again, before half-time. 

Early on in the second-half, Callum Wilson did get his goal. A well worked move saw Fabian Schar step forward into midfield before spreading it wide for Kieran Trippier and the Newcastle defender clipped an excellent ball into the middle for Wilson to head past Foderingham and make it four.

Newcastle thought they had a fifth just minutes later when some more poor play by Sheffield United allowed a gaping hole in their defence for Anthony Gordon to run through, try and slot past Foderingham but he pushed the ball out to Miguel Almiron and the Paraguayan slammed home but he had been stood offside when Gordon shot.

However, the wait for a fifth didn’t take too long as Anthony Gordon very soon after got the ball out wide on the left, cut inside and whipped an excellent effort into the far bottom corner. 

The goal 🔥
The celebration 🔥

ANTHONY GORDON 👏 pic.twitter.com/xhS6WnlHbs

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 24, 2023

Sheffield United effectively threw the towel in mid-way through the second-half and, after allowing Newcastle to simply toy with them, Miguel Almiron and Bruno Guimaraes upped the intensity with Guimares slotting Almiron through and the Paraguayan fired into the bottom corner. 

The hosts did move forward after that sixth with Bosnian defender Anel Ahmedhodzic getting into a reasonable position but he just hammered hard over the bar. 

That was just a brief moment for Sheffield United to take a breather, though, as it was soon seven for the visitors. Sean Longstaff ran on to a loose ball in the Blades’ defensive area, after a driving run from Alexander Isak. Longstaff’s blocked effort fell to Bruno Guimaraes and the Brazil international hammered home with his left foot. 

An eighth was nearly added when Elliot Anderson met Kieran Trippier’s header but the busiest goalkeeper in the Premier League so far this season, Wes Foderingham, once again tipped over the bar. 

Some more calamitous defending allowed Alexander Isak to burst through and calmly, confidently poke past Foderingham, who had committed prior to Isak’s shot. 

The big picture: The pressure has seriously mounted on Paul Heckingbottom with reports last weekend suggesting he may be on the verge he will be sacked, an 8-0 loss at home is not the best response. Newcastle are finding their groove again after three successive losses before the September international break with three clean sheets in all competitions. 

Man of the match: Anthony Gordon. The former Everton forward was outstanding after he replaced Harvey Barnes after just ten minutes, running the Sheffield United defence ragged. 

Expected goals: Sheffield United (0.90) 0-8 (4.05) Newcastle United

EVENTS

Kick-off

’11 | INJURY: Barnes

’21 | GOAL: Longstaff (0-1)

’31 | GOAL: Burn (0-2)

’35 | GOAL: Botman (0-3)

Half-time

’56 | GOAL: Wilson (0-4)

’61 | DISALLOWED: Almiron

’62 | GOAL: Gordon (0-5)

’68 | GOAL: Almiron (0-6)

’74 | GOAL: Guimaraes (0-7)

’87 | GOAL: Isak (0-8)

Full-time