Newcastle 5-1 Sheffield United (Isak 26′, pen 61′, Guimaraes 54′, Osborn og 65′, Wilson 72’| Ahmedhozic 5′)
ST JAMES’ PARK — If you ever wondered what putting a mid-table Championship club in the Premier League for a season would look like, here’s your answer.
Sheffield United turned up, Sheffield United showed a bit of fight for a while, Sheffield United ended up comprehensively beaten.
The story of the Blades’ season has been stuck on repeat for months and even with Newcastle strangely out of sorts for periods, they still look like fish out of water. With three wins all season they might have avoided the worst campaign in Premier League history, but there is no avoiding just how pointless it’s been.
The only difference at St James’ Park was the second half collapse here ushered in confirmation of a relegation that was in the post almost from the moment the promotion champagne corks were popped at Bramall Lane a year ago.
Owner Abdullah Bin Mosaad Al Saud, who unsuccessfully tried to sell the club a year ago, couldn’t have expected any different when he sold most of Sheffield United’s better players on the eve of the season.
He rolled the dice by sacking Paul Heckingbottom, but relegation was deserved and the only question now is what kind of team they will pull together in the Championship. Better teams than theirs have struggled after relegation.
Chris Wilder wore the sort of weary, disgruntled look we’ve come to expect from a manager who was incredibly fortunate to land this gig after failing at Middlesbrough and Watford.
Is he the right man for next season? The jury is out on that one, although he will point to a first half where they more than matched a Newcastle side who sleepwalked through the first 45 minutes.
But he has his work cut out for him with a group that, let’s cut to the chase, would probably not have been close to climbing out of the ultra-competitive Championship this season.
There was defiance at the end, Wilder pulling his players into a huddle in the centre circle at the end of the game before saluting supporters whose loyalty in the face of a horrific campaign has been admirable.
Few will need to be reminded of how far short they have come this season – this thrashing meant Newcastle’s aggregate scoreline against Sheffield United was 13-1. That’s a Premier League record.
If there is hope for this side, it comes in the shape of 19-year-old midfielder Ollie Arblaster, who was the best player on the St James’ Park pitch in the first half. He spent the first half of the season on loan at Port Vale but has been a revelation since being elevated into the first team – and certainly looked at home among glittering company here.
One pirouette in the centre circle to spring a counter-attack was pure class and any future plans must surely centre around him. i understands Newcastle are among the Premier League clubs monitoring him.
During that first half, the Blades were undoubtedly the better side. Newcastle had been poor at Crystal Palace in midweek and looked slack from the off here.
Anel Ahmedhodzic’s headed opener – left in acres of space to nod in – had been coming, even though there was only five minutes on the clock.
Newcastle toiled, Sean Longstaff having a rough time of it in midfield. But as the Blades will testify, class usually tells and Alexander Isak has plenty of it. His superb leveller – hit first time from distance – restored parity and calm on Tyneside.
The second half brought a glut of goals as Newcastle’s superiority was asserted.
Bruno Guimaraes, who was serenaded by supporters with a Brazilian flag display before the game, headed the home side’s second before Anthony Gordon won a penalty.
Isak looks every inch a golden boot contender, and rolled home the spot kick before a Ben Osborn own goal. Callum Wilson marked his return with a smart finish to give the scoreline a lopsided look. This was a bizarre game with a predictable finish.
from Football - inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/POCFruK
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