Sheffield United have been officially relegated to the Championship after their latest heavy defeat of a season to forget this afternoon. The Blades have long been doomed for the drop but could have staved it off for the time being with victory at Newcastle United, a prospect that looked to have more potential when Anel Ahmedhodzic put them ahead early on.
But the hosts replied in the first half through Alexander Isak although the Blades will wonder how they went in at the break after missing a host of golden chances, with Cameron Archer the main culprit and Mason Holgate also going close with a header that smacked against the post.
Newcastle turned it on in the second half to run out 5-1 winners, with United initially awarded an injury-time penalty when Jayden Bogle was fouled by home sub Alex Murphy - only for referee Tony Harrington to change his mind after being sent to his pitchside monitor to review the challenge. Here’s how we rated United’s players on their latest dark day this season ...
Newcastle turned it on in the second half to run out 5-1 winners, with United initially awarded an injury-time penalty when Jayden Bogle was fouled by home sub Alex Murphy - only for referee Tony Harrington to change his mind after being sent to his pitchside monitor to review the challenge. Here’s how we rated United’s players on their latest dark day this season ...
![His eyes will have lit up when the ball bounced back into his path after Holgate's header hit the bar, but his well-struck effort whistled just wide of what would have been a first Premier League goal for his boyhood club. Really he should have at least hit the target. Murphy also had all the time in the world to pick the pass for Isak's equaliser from Brooks' area of the pitch. Made way later on for Souza](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2024/04/27/15/01/GettyImages-2150425301.jpg.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
9. Andre Brooks 4
His eyes will have lit up when the ball bounced back into his path after Holgate's header hit the bar, but his well-struck effort whistled just wide of what would have been a first Premier League goal for his boyhood club. Really he should have at least hit the target. Murphy also had all the time in the world to pick the pass for Isak's equaliser from Brooks' area of the pitch. Made way later on for Souza | Getty Images
![Heavily involved from amn attacking point of view but will wonder how he didn't score in the first half with a couple of golden chances, including one one-on-one effort from a tight angle and another when he rounded the goalkeeper but saw his weak effort blocked. Gave away the free-kick which led to Newcastle's second and then looked like the man who should have been marking Bruno at the back post as the Brazilian nodded in unchallenged for 2-1. Had a golden chance to make amends soon after from Hamer's pass but his shot was comfortable for Dubravka away to his left](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2024/04/27/15/06/GettyImages-2150428375.jpg.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
10. Ben Brereton Diaz 3.5
Heavily involved from amn attacking point of view but will wonder how he didn't score in the first half with a couple of golden chances, including one one-on-one effort from a tight angle and another when he rounded the goalkeeper but saw his weak effort blocked. Gave away the free-kick which led to Newcastle's second and then looked like the man who should have been marking Bruno at the back post as the Brazilian nodded in unchallenged for 2-1. Had a golden chance to make amends soon after from Hamer's pass but his shot was comfortable for Dubravka away to his left | Getty Images
![Could have had two goals inside the first 20 minutes or so, the second a glorious chance after he skipped inside Schar with ease before delaying just a second or two too long to shoot and seeing his effort deflected wide of goal. Could have ended the first half with a hat-trick and the first-half profligacy cost United dear as they fell apart in the second, when the game could have been done and dusted in the first half](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2024/04/27/15/13/GettyImages-2150049456.jpg.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
11. Cameron Archer 3
Could have had two goals inside the first 20 minutes or so, the second a glorious chance after he skipped inside Schar with ease before delaying just a second or two too long to shoot and seeing his effort deflected wide of goal. Could have ended the first half with a hat-trick and the first-half profligacy cost United dear as they fell apart in the second, when the game could have been done and dusted in the first half | Getty Images
![Came on for Holgate on his return from injury. Also used: Souza 4, Osula 4, Slimane n/a](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjg0OTJiMzk4LWRkYzItNGUwMy05Mjg0LTk0OTcxNDBhY2FmOTplNzlhMWMzYy1mYWM5LTRjNDctOWMxYi02ZmUwOGQxMzBjYWM=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
12. Subs: Jack Robinson 5
Came on for Holgate on his return from injury. Also used: Souza 4, Osula 4, Slimane n/a Photo: David Rogers