Newcastle United 5-1 Sheffield United: Blades relegated after being thrashed by Magpies
Sheffield United's relegation from the Premier League was confirmed as Newcastle recovered from a sluggish start to thrash Chris Wilder's side at St James' Park.
Anel Ahmedhodzic gave the visitors a deserved early lead, nodding home Gustavo Hamer's inswinging cross from close range.
The Blades carved out several opportunities to double their advantage as Newcastle struggled to gain a grip on proceedings, but the home side were level when Alexander Isak drilled home from Jacob Murphy's pass in the 26th minute.
Ben Brereton Diaz had a goal-bound shot blocked by Dan Burn and Mason Holgate headed against the woodwork on the half-hour mark, but the visitors fell behind early in the second half when Bruno Guimaraes steered Lewis Hall's delivery into the far corner.
Isak registered his 23rd goal of the season from the penalty spot after Anthony Gordon was brought down by Holgate, before the unfortunate Ben Osborn bundled into his own net for Newcastle's fourth.
Callum Wilson came off the bench for the hosts to score his first top-flight goal since October.
Sheffield United were awarded a late penalty, but the decision was overturned by the video assistant referee who ruled Magpies substitute Alex Murphy had won the ball in a challenge with Jayden Bogle.
The defeat leaves the Blades 10 points adrift of safety with only three games remaining, while Newcastle stay seventh and are well placed to secure a spot in Europe next season.
Blades fall apart after bright start
The writing has been on the wall for quite some time for Wilder's side, who started brightly on Saturday but fell to pieces after Guimaraes gave Newcastle the lead.
The Blades have been stuck in the bottom three since late September, when they were thrashed 8-0 by Eddie Howe's team at Bramall Lane in their record league defeat.
Only Swindon Town have conceded more goals in a single Premier League season than the Blades, who have now shipped 97 goals in 35 games.
The visitors enjoyed plenty of early possession and could have doubled their lead after Ahmedhodzic's early opener, with Cameron Archer having a shot deflected wide following a mazy run.
Archer then had another effort blocked by Burn, who was in the right place at the right time to prevent Brereton Diaz putting the visitors back in front after Isak's leveller.
Holgate was denied by the frame of the goal and Andre Brooks skewed a long-range effort wide early in the second half, but Newcastle never looked back after Guimaraes' header.
Referee Tony Harrington awarded the visitors a late spot-kick after Bogle went down under pressure from Alex Murphy, but Wilder's team were denied a late consolation after VAR ruled the Newcastle defender had got his toe to the ball.
Magpies eventually get going
If the home supporters were expecting a fast start from the Magpies after Wednesday's limp defeat at Crystal Palace, they were left disappointed.
Howe's team are aiming to secure European qualification for the second season in succession but started the game as if they had little to play for, with the visitors dominating possession and first to every loose ball.
Newcastle failed to kick on after Isak's equaliser but very nearly completed the turnaround on the stroke of half-time, but Wes Foderingham got a strong left hand to Hall's low drive from the edge of the box.
However, the hosts finally took control after Guimaraes' fifth goal of the campaign and could have added even more gloss to the scoreline after Wilson made it 5-1.
Newcastle have scored 13 league goals against the Blades this season - the most one team has registered against another in a single Premier League campaign.
In-form Isak has found the net in his past seven appearances at St James' Park - only Andrew Cole and Alan Shearer have enjoyed longer streaks for the club.
Newcastle are now four points clear of eighth-placed West Ham with a game in hand and just a point behind Manchester United in sixth, after the Red Devils conceded a late equaliser at home to Burnley on Saturday.
Player of the match
IsakAlexander Isak
Newcastle United
Squad number14Player nameIsak
Average rating8.57
Squad number39Player nameBruno Guimarães
Average rating8.40
Squad number9Player nameWilson
Average rating7.95
Squad number10Player nameGordon
Average rating7.79
Squad number33Player nameBurn
Average rating7.65
Squad number15Player nameBarnes
Average rating7.64
Squad number20Player nameHall
Average rating7.36
Squad number21Player nameLivramento
Average rating7.22
Squad number17Player nameKrafth
Average rating7.19
Squad number11Player nameRitchie
Average rating7.09
Squad number54Player nameMurphy
Average rating7.00
Squad number23Player nameMurphy
Average rating6.97
Squad number5Player nameSchär
Average rating6.88
Squad number1Player nameDúbravka
Average rating6.54
Squad number32Player nameAnderson
Average rating6.18
Squad number36Player nameS Longstaff
Average rating2.90
Sheffield United
Squad number11Player nameBrereton
Average rating5.86
Squad number8Player nameHamer
Average rating5.86
Squad number24Player nameArblaster
Average rating5.84
Squad number15Player nameAhmedhodzic
Average rating5.75
Squad number10Player nameArcher
Average rating5.50
Squad number35Player nameBrooks
Average rating5.39
Squad number18Player nameFoderingham
Average rating5.36
Squad number20Player nameBogle
Average rating5.23
Squad number23Player nameOsborn
Average rating5.21
Squad number30Player nameHolgate
Average rating5.19
Squad number5Player nameTrusty
Average rating5.06
Squad number32Player nameOsula
Average rating4.23
Squad number21Player nameVinicius Souza
Average rating3.93
Squad number25Player nameBen Slimane
Average rating3.92
Squad number19Player nameRobinson
Average rating3.62
Line-ups
Newcastle
Formation 4-3-3
1Dúbravka
21Livramento5Schär33Burn20Hall
36S Longstaff39Bruno Guimarães32Anderson
23Murphy14Isak10Gordon
- 1Dúbravka
- 21Livramento
- 5SchärSubstituted forKrafthat 45'minutes
- 33Burn
- 20HallSubstituted forMurphyat 82'minutes
- 36S Longstaff
- 39Bruno Guimarães
- 32AndersonSubstituted forWilsonat 66'minutes
- 23MurphySubstituted forBarnesat 66'minutes
- 14Isak
- 10GordonSubstituted forRitchieat 82'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Dummett
- 9Wilson
- 11Ritchie
- 15Barnes
- 17Krafth
- 18Karius
- 40White
- 54Murphy
- 63Parkinson
Sheff Utd
Formation 3-5-2
18Foderingham
30Holgate15Ahmedhodzic5Trusty
20Bogle8Hamer24Arblaster35Brooks23Osborn
10Archer11Brereton
- 18Foderingham
- 30HolgateSubstituted forRobinsonat 67'minutes
- 15Ahmedhodzic
- 5Trusty
- 20Bogle
- 8HamerSubstituted forBen Slimaneat 79'minutes
- 24Arblaster
- 35BrooksSubstituted forde Souza Costaat 70'minutes
- 23Osborn
- 10ArcherSubstituted forOsulaat 67'minutes
- 11Brereton
Substitutes
- 13Grbic
- 16Norwood
- 19Robinson
- 21de Souza Costa
- 25Ben Slimane
- 27Larouci
- 29Curtis
- 32Osula
- 34Marsh
Match Stats
Live Text
Match ends, Newcastle United 5, Sheffield United 1.