Sheffield Utd 0-8 Newcastle: Toon break records in demolition job at Bramall Lane
Fatigue following Tuesday's trip to Milan? Newcastle not clicking in the final third? Any doubts around Eddie Howe's Mags were answered quite incredibly, as Newcastle left Bramall Lane with their biggest ever away win after an 8-0 demolition job at Bramall Lane!
After a few sloppy moments in the opening 15 minutes and an early injury to Harvey Barnes, we never looked back and could've easily scored five or six in a devastating first half, where Longstaff opened the scoring before Burn and Botman both headed home from Kieran Trippier crosses.
We could've settled for that and taken our foot off the gas, yet the second half was an absolute massacre, as Callum Wilson, Miguel Almiron, Anthony Gordon, Bruno Guimaraes and Alexander Isak all got in on on the act. EIGHT goals, EIGHT different scorers - a new Premier League record - another clean sheet and three more points.
The win rounds off a brilliant week for the club, where we've followed three straight defeats with a big win over Brentford, a superb point at the San Siro and a demolition job at Sheffield United, sending us up to 8th ahead of games against Man City (Carabao Cup) and Burnley.
As we predicted pre-match, Eddie Howe made four changes to the side that drew 0-0 in Milan, seeing Callum Wilson, Harvey Barnes, Miguel Almiron and Elliot Anderson replace Alexander Isak, Anthony Gordon, Jacob Murphy and Sandro Tonali.
It was a mixed start. We had plenty of the ball and were getting some joy in behind their midfield, but some sloppy final balls into the front three let us down on more than one occasion. Bruno did release Wilson, who had a low shot comfortably saved by Foderingham, but at the other end we were almost caught twice at the back post, where an unmarked Luke Thomas had one effort blocked by Trippier and another slice wide.
One Mag who didn't make it to the 15 minute mark was Harvey Barnes. It was just his second half of the season, but a sudden muscle injury off the ball saw him hobble off and head straight down the tunnel, seeing Anthony Gordon come on just when Howe planned to give him a rest after his flat display in Milan.
The fact we were consistently getting in behind their midfield was encouraging, but loose balls from Almiron, Longstaff and Wilson failed to capitalise on the surprising amount of space we'd been given. At the other end, we were also a little loose, as a few poor clearances from Fabian Schar were almost punished.
If we could improve in the final third, we were in business and we finally capitalised 20 minutes in as Gordon's cut-back right on the byline found Longstaff, who smashed a first-time finish high into the net. VAR checks showed the ball did not go out of play and the goal was given. 1-0 Newcastle!
It was almost two before the break, as Trippier's brilliant delivery only just evaded Botman and Wilson. However, the skipper soon got his assist, seeing his deep corner nodded in at the back post by big Dan Burn! 2-0 Newcastle and it should've been three seconds after the restart, as livewire Gordon fed Wilson. Our number nine only had Foderingham to beat, but his effort was weak and too close to the Blades stopper.
After that, Jack Robinson almost saw red for smashing into Sean Longstaff. He escaped with a yellow but the home side didn't from Trippier's latest set piece delivery, as his curling cross from the right was glanced in brilliantly by Sven Botman. 3-0 Newcastle with just 35 minutes on the clock! An idiot in the home end then got himself a lengthy ban after throwing a drink bottle at Anderson's foot, summing up the frustration on the red and white side of Bramall Lane.
Sheffield United had been living dangerously all half and we were finally exploiting their weak press and massive gaps in their midfield. They'd lost their heads and should've given away a penalty soon after, as Gordon went down from Bogle's dangling leg. Replays showed he got nowhere near the ball and made contact, but VAR opted against what looked like a pretty clear trip.
Nevertheless, we didn't relent and could've been four of five up by the break, as more brilliant play from the electric Gordon put Wilson in behind. Not for the first time in the opening 45, the striker fired too close to the keeper, yet he could've had a first half hat-trick on another day.
Gordon's pace, energy and directness was a joy to watch and helped changed the game following Barnes' withdrawal. He was outstanding, but there were so many assured displays after a sloppy start. Longstaff was everywhere, Bruno was purring, Botman dealt with everything they threw at us with ease and Trippier's creativity - from set pieces and open play - caused havoc.
The second half kicked off and we remained in total control, creating openings at will and dominating possession. Three became four before the hour mark, as Trippier completed his hat-trick of assists with a perfect delivery that Callum Wilson headed home from point blank range.
Gordon should've made it five a few minutes later after Wilson slipped the winger, but that didn't matter, as the winger shrugged off his miss with a stunning strike from outside of the box, firing into the far corner emphatically after cutting in from the left once again. 5-0 Newcastle! Sheffield United had been truly abysmal, yet this was a five-star display following our shaky start, seeing us outwork the home side in every single department just when some wondered if we'd be suffering a post-Milan hangover.
68 minutes in, it was six! Not for the first time, Bruno picked up the ball in acres and this time fed Miguel Almiron, who drifted in from the right, timed his run perfectly and slotted into the bottom corner. The away end were in dreamland and the home crowd headed for the exits - 6-0!
Three changes came next, seeing Tino Livramento, Alexander Isak and Sandro Tonali replace Trippier, Wilson and Almiron. This saw Anderson pull out to the left wing and Gordon move to the right, with Isak up top and Tonali slotting in alongside Longstaff and Bruno.
Time to settle down and focus on the clean sheet? No chance. After Isak broke forward and Longstaff's deflected effort fell to the Brazilian, Bruno took one touch and fired his second into the top corner. 7-0 - yes SEVEN nil - to Newcastle and a big celebration in front of the away end soon after as our number 39 celebrated his imminent new contract with a goal of his own.
After Elliot Anderson's well-saved header almost made it eight, Lewis Hall came on for his Newcastle United debut, replacing Bruno Guimaraes with 81 minutes on the clock. Great to see the 19-year-old and interesting to see us change systems, with Hall and Tino operating as wing-backs either side Burn, Botman and Schar; who'd now formed a back three.
Hungry to get in on the action, Isak then made it eight - equaling our biggest ever win. The Swede pounced on an error from Tom Davies, sat down the recovering defender and slotted home. 8-0 and the first time eight different players have scored for one team in a top-flight game since Liverpool's 9-0 win over Palace in 1989.
On the subject of setting new records, it was the first time Trippier set up three goals in a single game. He became only the fourth player to record three assists in a single Premier League game for Newcastle, after Andy Cole (March 1994 v West Ham), Moussa Sissoko (October 2015 v Norwich), and Allan Saint-Maximin (July 2020 v Bournemouth).
A stunning display, another superb results and a confidence-boosting win that will serve to benefit so many in the squad, as third-straight clean sheet was mixed with a true masterclass at the other end.
Next up, Man City in the cup on Wednesday before Burnley at home next Saturday. GET IN!
(4-3-3): Pope – Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn – Longstaff, Bruno, Anderson – Almiron, Wilson, Barnes.
SUBS: Dubravka, Lascelles, Tonali, Gordon, Targett, Isak, Hall, Livramento, Murphy.
