Alexander Isak has run amok against better teams this season — but it was the Newcastle United striker who helped put the nail in Sheffield United’s relegation coffin.
Anel Ahmedhodzic’s glancing header stunned St James’ Park in the fifth minute and the struggling visitors should have doubled their lead before Isak intervened to level by the break. Isak scored for the seventh successive home with a fine low shot, before Bruno Guimaraes looped in a header after 54 minutes.
Isak added his second from the penalty spot and Ben Osborn’s 65th minute own goal made it three goals in 11 minutes before the returning Callum Wilson came off the bench to make it five. Newcastle have enjoyed meeting Sheffield United this season — the aggregate score over their two meetings 13-1.
The Athletic’s Chris Waugh and George Caulkin analysed the action.
Where would Newcastle be without Isak?
By half-time, Sheffield United’s expected goals return (xG) was 1.35, while Newcastle’s was only 0.84 — and the home side were undoubtedly fortunate to be level.
They were indebted to two players, one at either end, for the 1-1 scoreline at the break: Dan Burn for making two goal-saving blocks and Isak for taking his one clear-cut chance of the opening 45 minutes.
Out of possession, Newcastle were passive and almost appeared lethargic, while on the ball they lacked urgency. Isak was starved of the ball, enjoying just 13 first-half touches and only one of those in the opposition box — but he showed his trademark clinical touch in the area, dispatching an excellent 26th-minute equaliser.
Jacob Murphy fed an early ball down the channel into the right-hand side of the box and Isak, initially offside, arced his run to cleverly move himself back level with the Sheffield United defence. Without taking a touch, he positioned his body over the ball and then whipped a delicious low shot across Wes Foderingham and into the left-hand corner of the net.
It was the seventh successive home match in the Premier League in which Isak has scored, while, after calmly dispatching his 60th-minute penalty, he moved on to 19 top-flight goals for the season and 23 in all competitions.
Even when his team is struggling, Isak seems to find a way to score on Tyneside. He really is lethal and is now only a goal behind Erling Haaland and Cole Palmer in the race for the Premier League golden boot.
Chris Waugh
How much will boys from Brazil appreciate show of love?
With another round of speculation regarding the midfielder’s future at St James’ Park and with Howe confirming that the £100 million release clause in his contract expires at the end of June, Wor Flags, the fans group, celebrated the the team’s two Brazilians before kick-off.
The Gallowgate End was decorated in foil flags in the colour of Brazil’s flag. Beneath it was a banner which read (in translation): “From Aliança and Rio to Newcastle upon Tyne, a home away from home. Joelinton and Bruno, our Brazilian Geordies.”
Newcastle fans show their support for Bruno and Joelinton (an MacNicol/Getty Images)
Guimaraes and Joelinton are adored on Tyneside and although the latter has committed himself to Newcastle for the next four years, Guimaraes’s position is less certain. He has a genuine passion for the club and its supporters, but he is being eyed enviously elsewhere.
Newcastle needed Guimaraes, just as they needed Isak, their other world-class player. His diving header, meeting a free-kick from Anthony Gordon was a demonstration of his commitment more than his quality. The big guns delivered. It is vital Newcastle keep them.
George Caulkin
Can Newcastle reach Europe?
In the end, the scoreline matched, if not possibly even exceeded, pre-game expectations — with Foderingham even producing a series of excellent saves to prevent the winning margin from swelling further.
An aggregate return of 13-1 against Sheffield United highlights how devastating Newcastle can be in attack, but this was nowhere near as routine a victory as the scoreboard suggested. Following a disappointing display away to Crystal Palace on Wednesday, Newcastle were poor for the best part of an hour against a team who had long been destined for relegation.
Yet, although this was only Newcastle’s second victory from a losing position all season, it continued a positive post-March international break run of form.
Despite their seemingly never-ending injury crisis — with Fabian Schar the latest centre-half to suffer a problem, leaving Burn and Emil Krafth to cover in as a makeshift pairing — Newcastle are seventh, just a point behind sixth-placed Manchester United, who they still have to play, and over who they hold a vastly superior goal difference.
With four games remaining, Newcastle have an excellent chance of qualifying for Europe and that really would represent some achievement, given this campaign has thrown up myriad challenges.
Chris Waugh
What did Howe say?
We will bring you this after he has spoken at the post-match press conference.
What next for Newcastle?
Saturday, May 4: Burnley (A), Premier League, 3pm GMT, 10am ET
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(Stu Forster/Getty Images)
