Newcastle 1-0 Sheffield United: Joe Willock scores in sixth consecutive game as fans return to St James’ Park

Report and highlights as Newcastle supporters were treated to a home win on their return to St James’ Park with Joe Willock’s goal enough to beat Sheffield United

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@ghostgoal

Wednesday 19 May 2021 20:17, UK

Joe Willock scored for the sixth consecutive Premier League game as Newcastle beat Sheffield United 1-0 on the night that fans returned to St James’ Park.

In front of a crowd of 10,000 on Tyneside, the 21-year-old headed Steve Bruce’s side ahead in first-half stoppage time and that proved enough for the win as there was no way back for the Blades.

The result confirms that Sheffield United will finish bottom of the Premier League this season, while the three points lift Newcastle back above Brighton and up to 15th in the table.

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Player ratings

Newcastle United: Dubravka (6), Krafth (7), Fernandez (7), Dummett (6), Murphy (8), Shelvey (7), Willock (8), Ritchie (6), Almiron (6), Saint-Maximin (8), Joelinton (5)

Subs: Gayle (6), Longstaff (6), Carroll (N/A)

Sheffield United: Ramsdale (7), Bogle (6), Basham (6), Egan (6), Robinson (6), Stevens (6), Osborn (6), Norwood (5), Fleck (6), McGoldrick (7), Jebbison (6)

Subs: Brewster (6)

Man of the match: Joe Willock

How Newcastle won it

Newcastle started brightly, responding to the urgings of the crowd, with Miguel Almiron soon testing Aaron Ramsdale and palpable excitement whenever the ball was at Allan Saint-Maximin’s feet.

But it was Sheffield United with the first clear opening of the game and David McGoldrick, relatively impressive for the bottom club this season, who should have found the breakthrough.

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Instead, when the experienced Republic of Ireland international forward ran clear of the Newcastle defence he could only measure his side-footed finish just the wrong side of the far post.

It looked to have proven costly when Jonjo Shelvey headed the ball goalwards from close range on 27 minutes but Blades goalkeeper Ramsdale produced a stunning save to deny him.

Team news

Steve Bruce named an unchanged Newcastle side from that topsy-turvy defeat against Man City, with the same names on his bench, too.

There was only one change for Sheffield United – Jayden Bogle coming in for George Baldock, who was not in the matchday squad. That meant Daniel Jebbison started again.

Newcastle continued to step things up as the half wore on with Saint-Maximin usually the catalyst, his astonishing dribbling skills causing all sorts of problems for the Sheffield United defence.

Joelinton missed a good chance in first-half stoppage time when he headed over following a fine cross by Jacob Murphy but the Newcastle wing-back did have his assist just moments later.

There was nothing Ramsdale could do to stop Willock’s close-range header – the on-loan Arsenal man becoming the youngest player to score in six consecutive Premier League games.

Oliver Norwood skied a decent chance over the bar but as the away team pushed for an equaliser, gaps appeared at the back and Saint-Maximin was a constant threat on the counter-attack.

Even when the flying winger went off injured, Willock’s appetite remained undimmed, powering through the middle and firing off a shot from distance that was straight at Ramsdale.

But with only a goal between the teams, Paul Heckingbottom’s men were always in it and might have snatched an equaliser through McGoldrick only for his long-range attempt to hit the bar.

That was as close as Sheffield United came, however, as Newcastle saw out the closing stages comfortably enough – the final whistle greeted by a loud roar from the returning faithful.

Opta stats

  • Newcastle have won four of their last seven Premier League games (D1 L2), as many as they had in their previous 23 games in the competition combined.
  • Sheffield United suffered their 29th Premier League defeat of the season – a joint-record in a single campaign in the competition, along with Derby County in 2007-08, Sunderland in 2005-06 and Ipswich Town in 1994-95.
  • This was Newcastle’s first home win without conceding in the Premier League since June 2020, with that also coming against Sheffield United in a 3-0 victory.
  • Sheffield United were beaten for the 16th time away from home in the league this term, with only Burnley in 2009-10 (17) ever suffering more away defeats in a single Premier League campaign.
  • Newcastle’s Joe Willock has scored in each of his last six appearances in the Premier League, becoming the youngest player in the competition’s history to score in six consecutive outings (21y 272d).
  • Joe Willock became only the third Newcastle player to score in six consecutive Premier League appearances, following Papiss Cissé in April 2012 (6) and Alan Shearer in November 1996 (7).
  • Sheffield United goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale ended on the losing side in a Premier League game for the 50th time, with his 74 appearances being the fewest to 50 defeats of any player in the competition’s history.
  • Newcastle’s Allan Saint-Maximin completed 15 dribbles against Sheffield United; the joint-most by a player in a single game in the top five European leagues this season, along with Lionel Messi versus Celta Vigo (also 15).

What’s next?

Newcastle wrap up their season against Fulham at Craven Cottage, a fixture in which Scott Parker’s team had briefly hoped would see them overhaul the visitors before slumping to relegation.

Sheffield United’s season concludes in front of their own supporters at Bramall Lane when they welcome Burnley. The Blades were sixth last time they had fans in the stadium in March 2020.

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