Newcastle inflicted a devastating, record-breaking 8-0 defeat on a hapless Sheffield United to heap the pressure on Paul Heckingbottom.
The Blades looked beleaguered from the moment Sean Longstaff broke the deadlock (21), with defenders Dan Burn (31) and Sven Botman (35) extending the visitors’ lead before the break.
Heckingbottom was in need of a rousing response after the restart, but what he got was Sheffield United’s worst-ever home defeat as Callum Wilson added a fourth (56) from a third Kieran Trippier assist.
Anthony Gordon, who was electric throughout, curled home goal number five four minutes later as the home fans headed for the exits in their droves.
Those who remained witnessed Miguel Almiron race through to add a sixth (68) and Bruno Guimaraes made it 7-0 before Alexander Isak pounced on a Tom Davies mistake to put the seal on Newcastle’s biggest Premier League away win (87).
Heckingottom fronted up afterwards and said: “It’s a bad end to what has been a bad week for us. These results are going to come, we expect them but it is the nature of the performance that we are upset about. We were undone by our organisation.
“We can’t afford to put ourselves behind in that sort of fashion if we want to compete. It is the second half I am upset with, regardless of the errors that lead to goals. We need to make sure we learn from that.”
Sheffield United, still seeking their first Premier League win since returning to the top flight, sink to the bottom of the division with a goal difference of -12, while Newcastle rise to eighth following back-to-back wins.
