Newcastle United pounded Sheffield United for the second time this season, relegating the Blades with a 5-1 comeback with at St. James’ Park on Saturday.
The Blades led 1-0 early through an Anel Ahmedhodzic goal but saw Newcastle surge back through goals from Bruno Guimaraes, Callum Wilson, a Sheffield United own goal, and an Alexander Isak brace.
[ MORE: Wilder blasts ‘lack of leadership’ on field ]
The Magpies fell 2-0 at Crystal Palace at midweek with an uninspiring display that sunk them behind Manchester United in the race for sixth place, but have been a different animal at home this season and had beaten the Blades 8-0 at Bramall Lane earlier this campaign.
Sheffield United hung tough with Manchester United before losing 4-2 at midweek, but this battle was shorter. Their 16 points with three matches left means they cannot catch 17th-place Nottingham Forest (26 points).
Wilder fails to solidify talent-challenged Blades
It was a cute idea, Chris Wilder taking over for Paul Heckingbottom to try and save Sheffield United’s season. What always seemed fantasy proved to be that, as Wilder could not take a squad of talent not fit for the top flight and turn it into something more stable.
The Blades took 0.42 points-per-game under Heckingbottom, scoring 0.78 goals per game and conceding 2.78 including a whopping eight at home to Newcastle. Under Wilder? 0.52 points-per-game with 1.09 scored and 2.76 conceded per game.
WATCH NEWCASTLE vs SHEFFIELD UNITED FULL MATCH REPLAY
No manager was going to get a real song out of the Blades after the club failed to rebuild the team following the sales of Sander Berge and Iliman Ndiaye. Vinicius Souza and Cameron Archer had moments but weren’t stars, and they would’ve been fine as additions to keeping Berge and Ndiaye, but there rest of the additions weren’t good enough even as USMNT back Auston Trusty and Dutch midfielder Gustavo Hamer huffed and puffer with promise at times.
Isak, Guimaraes may just drag Magpies to European finish line
Newcastle’s injury crisis has rarely eased and its midfield without Joelinton and suspended Sandro Tonali has been substandard for most of the season aside from the sensational Bruno Guimaraes. The Magpies attack has missed Callum Wilson, Joe Willock, and Harvey Barnes for long stretches of the season but has been able to lean on the sensational Alexander Isak at center forward.
There have been other heroes, as Fabian Schar and Dan Burn have helped the beleaguered center back corps overcome injuries to Sven Botman and then Jamaal Lascelles. And Kieran Trippier was leading the Premier League in assists when he suffered a long-term injury.
But Isak and Guimaraes — as well as Botman — are example of what Newcastle can be under its new, ultra-rich ownership. If they get the club back to the Europa League, perhaps they’ll chose to stay with the club rather than make it loads and loads of money. And if they make the Europa League, Newcastle will have less Financial Fair Play concerns and can probably afford to ward off suitors (Guimaraes does have a reported nine-figure release clause).
Newcastle vs Sheffield United player ratings (fotmob.com)
Newcastle vs Sheffield United player ratings (fotmob.com)
Newcastle vs Sheffield United player ratings (fotmob.com)
What’s next?
Newcastle go to Burnley for a 10am ET Saturday scrap at Turf Moor, while Blades kickoff home to Nottingham Forest at the same time.
How to watch Newcastle vs Sheffield United live, stream link and start time
Kick off: 10am ET Saturday
TV Channel: Peacock Premium
Online: Premier League on Peacock
Newcastle vs Sheffield United live updates — By Nick Mendola
Newcastle vs Sheffield United final score: 5-1
Goalscorers: Ahmedhodzic (5′), Isak (26′, pen 61′), Guimaraes (54′), Osborn (o.g. 65′), Wilson (72′)
Sheffield United penalty overturned.
Alex Murphy and Jayden Bogle fight on the edge of the 18, and a penalty is awarded to the Blades after Bogle goes down in the box.
Referee Tony Harrington is called to the monitor, as contact started outside the 18. No penalty!
GOAL! Newcastle 5-1 Sheffield United (72nd minute)
Harvey Barnes drives into a sea of Blades defenders and picks out Callum Wilson to his right.
Wilson brings the ball into shooting position in style and smashes past Foderingham.
The Blades are going down.
Wilson blasts Newcastle 5-1 ahead of Blades
Callum Wilson nets Newcastle’s fifth goal of the match to give the Magies a commanding four-goal lead over the Blades at St. James’ Park.
Own goal and subs — Newcastle 4-1 Sheffield United (65th minute)
Ben Osborn’s only hope in a goal mouth scramble is a foul or a difficult back heel sweep clearance. He opts for the latter and puts it in his own goal.
A pair of subs for the Blades and Magpies.
William Osula and Jack Robinson come on for Sheffield United, replacing Cam Archer and Mason Holgate.
There are entrances for Callum Wilson and Harvey Barnes, taking the spots of Newcastle’s Elliot Anderson and Jacob Murphy. Emil Krafth had replaced Fabian Schar at half.
Osborn’s own goal gives Newcastle 4-1 lead
Things go from bad to worse for Sheffield United as Ben Osborn’s unfortunate own goal makes it 4-1 for Newcastle in the second half at St. James’ Park.
Blown chances for both sides, then a penalty! Newcastle 3-1 Sheffield United (61st minute)
Anthony Gordon is 1v1 with Foderingham but he kicks the ground.
At the other end, Ben Brereton Diaz picks out the far corner but Martin Dubravka makes a great save.
Now, a penalty to Newcastle after Mason Holgate takes down Gordon in the box.
VAR is looking to see whether it’s inside the box. It is, and Isak goes to the spot. Goal.
Isak’s penalty puts Newcastle 3-1 ahead of Blades
Alexander Isak steps up to the spot and tucks away the Magpies’ penalty to give Newcastle a two-goal advantage over Sheffield United at St. James’ Park.
Bruno Guimaraes goal! Newcastle 2-1 Sheffield United (54th minute)
Could this be it for Blades in the Premier League?
It’s a wonderful diving header from Bruno Guimaraes, who gets on the end of Anthony Gordon’s back post-aimed free kick.
The Brazilian raises the corner flag in the air to the delight of St. James’ Park. He’s bought into SJP (at least for now, says the $110M+ release clause!).
Guimaraes’ header makes it 2-1 for Newcastle
Bruno Guimaraes’s diving header gives the Magpies a 2-1 lead over Sheffield United in the second half at St. James Park.
Halftime — Newcastle 1-1 Sheffield United
That was a super-entertaining 45 minutes, one that Eddie Howe will have wished was a bit more boring — or at least one-sided — against the 20th-place visitors.
Both teams attempted 10 shots and the Blades should probably be in front. Dan Burn has two huge blocks for the Magpies, and both keepers have a save.
Alexander Isak goal! Newcastle 1-1 Sheffield United (26th minute)
The Swedish striker is at it again, now tied with Dominic Solanke for the fourth-most goals this Premier League season.
Isak’s run is perfectly-timed to reach Jacob Murphy’s terrific entry pass, and he beats Wes Foderingham to restore level terms.
Isak slots home Newcastle’s equalizer v. Blades
Alexander Isak’s stellar form continues he times his run to perfection before burying his effort into the back of the net from an awkward angle to get Newcastle back on level terms against Sheffield United.
Block after block after block
Newcastle’s finally found itself, but Sheffield United are throwing their bodies in front of numerous shots.
No shots have reached Blades goalkeeper Wes Foderingham, though.
Could be 2-0 but Dan Burn
They call him BDB on Tyneside, and big Dan Burn blocks at point-blank range to stop a Fabian Schar error from blessing Blades’ lead to two.
Blades score! Newcastle 0-1 Sheffield United (5th minute)
The Magpies are a mess out of the gates, and Blades look great!
Gustavo Hamer’s service from the left beats all of Newcastle, and BNH defender Anel Ahmedhodzic slides it past a mixed-up Martin Dubravka.
Ahmedhodzic stuns Newcastle to give Blades lead
Sheffield United refuse to go down without a fight as Anel Ahmedhodzic nets the Blades’ go-ahead goal against Newcastle early in the first half at St. James’ Park.
Newcastle United lineup
Dubravka, Livramento, Schar, Burn, Hall, Guimaraes, Longstaff, Anderson, Murphy, Gordon, Isak
Sheffield United lineup
Foderingham, Bogle, Holgate, Ahmedhodzic, Trusty, Osborn, Arblaster, Hamer, Brooks, Brereton Diaz, Archer
Newcastle United focus, team news
OUT: Sandro Tonali (suspension), Sven Botman (knee), Jamaal Lascelles (knee), Callum Wilson (chest), Joelinton (thigh), Nick Pope (shoulder), Lewis Miley (back), Matt Targett (achilles), Kieran Trippier (calf), Joe Willock (achilles) | QUESTIONABLE: Miguel Almiron (knee), Tino Livramento (ankle)
Sheffield United focus, team news
OUT: Oliver McBurnie (thigh), James McAtee (knock), John Egan (ankle), George Baldock (calf), Max Lowe (ankle), Chris Basham (ankle), Tom Davies (thigh), Daniel Jebbison (illness), Rhys Norrington-Davies (thigh), Jack Robinson (ankle) | QUESTIONABLE: Rhian Brewster (thigh)