With a brilliant performance against yet-to-win Sheffield United at Bramall Lane, Newcastle equalled their record Premier League victory by thrashing Sheffield with 8 goals.
As Eddie Howe’s team romped to victory with eight different players scoring, any worries of a European hangover following their Champions League efforts on Tuesday quickly disappeared. With the Blades’ claims for a handball and allegations that the ball went out of play in the buildup being rejected, Sean Longstaff gave the visitors the lead after 21 minutes when he swept in from Anthony Gordon’s cutback.
After a strong start under Paul Heckingbottom, Newcastle scored two more goals in the space of four minutes to put them three goals behind at the interval. Both goals were assisted by Kieran Trippier, with Dan Burn crouching to tip in one at the back post before Sven Botman headed in his first goal for Newcastle.
Before the interval, Callum Wilson had a couple of good chances that he passed up, but he scored 10 minutes into the second half on a close-range header after another accurate cross from Trippier. Gordon, who is unstoppable, delivered the fifth goal as Newcastle appeared to be able to destroy the Blades at will.
The ex-Everton winger dribbled in from the left and slid the ball past Sheffield United goalie Wes Foderingham and into the far corner with ease. With 17 minutes left, Bruno Guimaraes added a seventh goal and Miguel Almiron added a sixth against a dejected home team.
That gave replacement Alexander Isak plenty of time to capitalise on another defensive blunder and calmly score to make it 8-0, the same score with which Newcastle defeated Sheffield Wednesday in 1999. The outcome also marks Sheffield United’s worst league loss.
After a record loss, the Blades aren’t feeling much more positive
John Egan, the captain of Sheffield United, remarked after the game, “I can’t stand here and say anything nice.”
In their 4,988th game, the Blades suffered their worst loss in league history. That speaks for itself, but the fact that it may have been worse is troubling for them. After failing to take advantage of a few early opportunities—Luke Thomas had one of his efforts blocked and sliced another wide from a good position at the far post—they disintegrated after falling behind.
Sheffield was left confused when three goals were scored in the first 14 minutes, and it’s worrying that things became worse after halftime.
The host team was outmatched as Newcastle players could find empty spaces for a lot of the game on the field. Heckingbottom’s team has lost by more than a goal just once in their first five games, and they must hope that this is an anomaly. Despite four losses, this is the first time they have done so.
