Sheffield United 0-8 Newcastle United: EIGHT different goalscorers as Eddie Howe’s side destroy woeful Blades

Newcastle United thumped Sheffield United 8-0 to pile more misery on the winless Blades – becoming the first team in Premier League history to have eight different goalscorers.

The visitors took the lead after 21 minutes thanks to a smart finish from Sean Longstaff. Early substitute Anthony Gordon did well down the left-hand side to keep the ball in play before picking out Longstaff, who fired home.

Eddie Howe’s side doubled their lead just eight minutes later with Dan Burn on hand at the back post to head home Kieran Trippier’s corner.

Less than five minutes later and Newcastle had a third and it was another set-piece. Trippier fired in a free-kick from the right-hand side which Sven Botman was able to head home past Wes Foderingham.

Newcastle picked up where they left off in the second half, with Callum Wilson making it four 10 minutes into the second half. Trippier sent in a great ball for his third assist of the match and Wilson was there to head home.

Gordon got the goal his performance deserved after 61 minutes with the pick of the bunch. The winger cut in from the left-hand side before curling a low effort into the bottom corner past Foderingham.

Eddie Howe’s side made it 6-0 on 68 minutes, this time Bruno Guimaraes threading a delightful ball towards Miguel Almiron who calmly slotted home.

Guimaraes went from provider to scorer just five minutes later, picking up the ball in the penalty area following a deflection before calmly lifting his effort into the top corner.

And substitute Alexander Isak latched onto a terrible back header from Tom Davies before coolly slotting home to make it 8-0 and complete the rout.

There was a case to be made coming into this match that Sheffield United have been unlucky in the Premier League this season. After all, three of their four defeats had come via goals scored in the 88th minute or later. Against Manchester City they were just minutes away from securing a point before conceding and their previous match against Spurs saw them hold a 1-0 lead in the 97th minute, only to lose the match 2-1.

Today though, luck had nothing to do with it. As soon as Newcastle went 1-0 up, Sheffield heads dropped and looked as though they’d concede every single time Newcastle came forward. Paul Heckingbottom’s side were a defensive disaster, positionally all over the place for many of the goals, woeful at defending set-pieces for a couple of the others. It was an all-round nightmare for Sheffield United and there will be real pressure on Heckingbottom now.

Brought on after 12 minutes with the game at 0-0 to replace the injured Harvey Barnes, Gordon was exceptional from the moment he stepped onto the pitch. He did well to provide the assist for Longstaff’s goal which kicked off proceedings and in the second half he grabbed a goal for himself – the best of the evening. He was a constant threat and gave the Blades defenders nightmares.

Sheffield United: Foderingham 6, Ahmedhodzic 5, Egan 5, Robinson 5, Bogle 6, Norwood 5, Souza 6, Thomas 6, McAtee 6, Hamer 6, Archer 6. Subs: Traore 6, Davies 5, Slimane 6, Basham 6

Newcastle United: Pope 7, Burn 8, Botman 7, Schar 7, Trippier 9, Bruno G 9, Longstaff 8, Anderson 8, Barnes N/A, Wilson 7, Almiron 7. Subs: Gordon 9, Tonali 7, Isak 7, Livramento 6, Hall N/A

21’ GOAL! Newcastle 1-0 Sheffield United (Longstaff): Sean Longstaff has fired Newcastle ahead! Anthony Gordon does well down the left-hand side to dig out a cross and Longstaff fires home!

31’ GOAL! Newcastle 2-0 Sheffield United (Burn): Dan Burn has made it 2-0! Trippier’s corner is fired to the back post and Burn is there to head home.

35’ GOAL! Newcastle 3-0 Sheffield United (Botman): It’s 3-0 and it’s another set-piece! Keiran Trippier’s delivery finds Sven Botman who powers a header past Foderingham.

56’ GOAL! Newcastle 4-0 Sheffield United (Wilson): Newcastle have their fourth and Callum Wilson has his goal! Trippier with his third assist of the match, he clips in a cross which Wilson buries with his head.

61’ GOAL! Newcastle 5-0 Sheffield United (Gordon): Anthony Gordon has made it 5-0! He cuts inside from the left before drilling an effort into the bottom corner past Foderingham.

68’ GOAL! Newcastle 6-0 Sheffield United (Almiron): They’ve scored again! Bruno Guimaraes threads a great ball through to Almiron who calmly slots home.

73’ GOAL! Newcastle 7-0 Sheffield United (Guimaraes): Bruno Guimaraes has made it 7-0! Longstaff’s effort is deflected into the path of Guimaraes who lifts his effort into the top corner.

87′ GOAL! Newcastle 8-0 Sheffield United (Isak): They have an eighth! Tom Davies doesn’t get enough on his header and the ball runs through to Alexander Isak who does well to keep his composure before slotting past Foderingham.

• 8-0 is Sheffield United’s heaviest ever defeat at Bramall Lane