The Blades had the opportunity to move up to 5th place but failed to take advantage as they crashed to defeat on Tyneside as Newcastle won their opening game since the break. United was once again second best for the second consecutive game since coming back. In truth, they were inferior with eleven v eleven. After John Egan was sent off though, United imploded conceding three goals without reply and in truth look a shadow of the side we have seen all season. It has to be a concern that two very winnable games against two poor sides have seen United not even have a shot on target. With Egan suspended and O’Connell injured, along with Dean Henderson ineligible, then United have to go to Old Trafford for a crunch game without the spine of the defence.
John Fleck was back but there was still no Jack O’Connell for United. Sander Berge was preferred ahead of John Lundstram in the starting eleven. There was no place for David McGoldrick in the matchday squad after he appeared to pick up a knock at Villa in the week after coming on as a substitute.
Amidst lots of speculation over a takeover, Steve Bruce began with Joelinton starting up top with Saint Maximim and Almiron supplanting him. Shelvey, Hayden and Ritchie started in midfield. Carroll, Gayle and Bentaleb were on the bench.
United began well and moved it about and worked it down the right-hand side with Baldock heavily involved winning an early free-kick after combining with Berge. Norwood had a couple of free-kicks and corners but these dangerous balls were cleared. United had seemed more assertive moving the ball quicker in the early stages and controlled the opening 10 minutes although they had not forced any chances at all with Sharp and McBurnie quiet. The Scottish striker did almost slip in Berge but he miss controlled it and the ball drifted out.
Newcastle slowly started to force their way back into it with Saint-Maximin looking to get on it at every opportunity. A corner saw a mass scramble and somehow the Blades got it clear but the rest bite was not long. Soon after, Norwood gave the ball straight to an opponent and it was moved onto Ritchie who hit a powerful shot that saw Henderson sprang to his left and made the first save of the game.
United tried to come out from an attack down the right fabulous work from Saint-Maximin saw him break the lines with a lovely pass and then the ball was through from Almiron for Joelinton to beat the offside trap. In on the angle, he cut in but seemed to kick the ball with his heel and it weakly trickled to Henderson at his near post when he surely had to try and go across the goalkeeper.
Egan and Joelinton were both booked for coming together after a free-kick had been given to United. It may have been soft but no need for either player to get involved really.
Norwood continued his erratic performance and with Fleck quiet and Berge again looking very timid, the midfield battle was being won in terms of effective territory by the home team. United had not done anything of note save for a few runs down the right by Baldock.
The home side was now the better side and was forcing United back. Almiron nearly got in as he outpaced Egan but the centre got back to make the tackle. Then a shot was charged down by the same man with token appeals for handball from Shelvey who hit the shot.
United had not looked like scoring but the main threat Baldock got a cross over and Sharp volleyed well over falling back.
Robinson miskicked badly out for a corner which the Blades cleared. It had been sloppy from the visitors and whilst the home team were not much better, they edged things and looked the more dangerous with Saint-Maximin the only player showing the only real attacking threat on the field.
United had a few decent moments with Basham twice running forward but making the wrong choice at the end. Another corner from Norwood was cleared after a ricochet but the front two were yet to make any impact.
The final few minutes petered out with the concern for United the tempo of play and no sustained pressure or chances at all in the opposition half.
The second half saw Newcastle being stronger again and look more determined with Saint-Maximin forcing the Blades back. However, the game turned on a refereeing decision on 50 minutes. A long punt that has been an issue for United saw Egan left one on one with Joelinton. The striker got the better of him and Egan pulled him back. He was the last man and no one was on the cover so there was concern he could have been a red alone but it did not matter as he had already picked up that first half yellow and off, he went.
United did not even have the chance to regroup before another defensive howler cost them badly again. An innocuous through ball from Ritchie seemed easy for Stevens but his inability to use his right foot even in simple situations cost him as he tried to swing at it with his left and completely missed it. Saint-Maximin was in on the angle and hit it low past Henderson who maybe did not cover his near post and opted to go with his feet. Undoubtedly the main error was Stevens. 1-0 and with ten men, it was an uphill task now.
However, on the hour mark, Sharp should have scored when Baldock put a cross in and Sharp headed wide. This was the best and maybe only clear chance for United in the games so far. At the other end though, Newcastle also should have scored. Stevens was skinned again and the ball came across Almiron had to score but his weak effort is saved easily from Henderson.
Lundstram came on for Berge but with 20 minutes left it was game over. Another poor pass saw the ball come off Mcburnie and Norwood did not react or run back. Baldock backpedalled and RITCHIE hit a fierce drive that went through Baldock and with Henderson’s positionally suspect, the ball arrowed into the net.
It was now damage limitation for a really poor United side who were slow, sluggish and sloppy in possession. Still, they did have a chance as Sharp did well running down the line and pulling back but Stevens day was summed up as he lashed it high and wide.
Zivkovic and Freeman came on for Sharp and Fleck but the game was done really and to add insult to injury, JOELINTON got the third. Almiron got down the left and with no challenge ran all the way, squared across and nobody went with the striker who easily converted. He may have been derided but he had been more effective than any of the United frontmen forcing a red card and scoring a goal.
Freeman came on for McBurnie and United looked a disorganised mess as the game came to an end although more good work from Basham nearly fashioned a chance. The game ended with Newcastle on the attack once more in a thoroughly comprehensive win for the home side.
Report by deadbat_db
Newcastle United: Dúbravka, Manquillo, Fernández, Lascelles, Rose, Hayden, Shelvey, Ritchie (Yedlin 90′), Almirón, Saint-Maximin (Bentaleb 79′), Joelinton (Carroll 79′). Subs: Darlow, Schär, Gayle. Muto, Krafth, Lazaro.
Sheffield United: Henderson, Baldock, Stevens, Fleck (L. Freeman 74′), Basham, McBurnie (K. Freeman 84′), Sharp (Zivkovic 74′), Egan, Norwood, Robinson, Berge (Lundstram 66′). Subs: Jagielka, Mousset, Osborn, Moore, Rodwell.