Newcastle United RECAP: The Sheffield United win, as it happened – featuring ASM, a Joelinton goal & three more points
Football returns to St James’s Park today – and we’ve got it covered with Newcastle United hosting Sheffield United in the Premier League.
It has been a long three months but Steve Bruce’s side are ready to return to action with Chris Wilder bringing his Blades squad to Tyneside for the 2pm kick-off.
We’ll have the best of the build-up, match action, analysis and reaction throughout the day. Simply scroll down for live updates from the game.
Newcastle United v Sheffield United LIVE: Early team news as Steve Bruce sweats on players' fitness
Last updated: Sunday, 21 June, 2020, 18:25
- Newcastle United 3 (Saint-Maximin, Ritchie, Joelinton) Sheffield United 0 - All three points for the Magpies!
- NUFC XI: Dubravka; Manquillo, Fernandez, Lascelles, Rose; Hayden, Shelvey (Schar 84); Ritchie (Yedlin 90), Almiron (Lazaro 84), Saint-Maximin (Bentaleb 78); Joelinton (Carroll 78).
- SUFC XI: Henderson; Baldock, Basham, Egan, Robinson, Stevens; Fleck (L.Freeman 73), Norwood, Berge (Lundstram 65); McBurnie (K.Freeman 84), Sharp (Zivkovic 73).
- The game was played behind-closed-doors due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Steve Bruce reacts to Newcastle United's win & the performances of Joelinton, Allan Saint-Maximin and Matt Ritchie
Liam Kennedy analysis: Good day/bad day
GOOD DAY
Allan Saint-Maximin was a threat from minute one to the last. His pace and power caused the Sheffield United backline all kinds of bother. Add Matt Ritchie and Joelinton to this list, too, with the former scoring and laying two goals while the latter got off the mark on Tyneside
BAD DAY
It wasn’t the best afternoon for Danny Rose. The coronavirus break doesn’t seem to have done much for the England international, who again looked totally out of sorts, with and without the ball.
Miles Starforth's NUFC analysis: "Onwards and upwards."
“Newcastle played with intelligence and intensity and deserved their 3-0 win. They competed and moved the ball well, and the pace of Saint-Maximin and persistence of Almiron caused problems all afternoon. It was also nice to see Joelinton score his first Premier League goal since August after that awful miss. Onwards and upwards.”
FAN VIEW: Graeme Bell backs NUFC for top 10 finish
“Great way to kick off the restart... that should see us about safe now. Top 10 finish on the cards? Win against Villa on Wednesday and it’s a strong possibility.”
FAN VIEW: Dave Black on THAT win & Premier League safety
“It was a fairly even game until the red card. Scoring so soon after they went down to 10 was pivotal and for once, Newcastle went for the throat. The front 4 combined well throughout and you’d have to say we should definitely be safe now. The prospect of Saint-Maximin playing with the freedom he showed today for the run-in is an exciting one.”
ASM on his goal, BLM & Joelinton
ASM on the goal & the win: "We enjoyed it. I am really happy. It was important to start with a win and we did. You always have to be waiting - I try to concentrate and help the team. Everybody is happy because we have three points.
On BLM celebration: “If I can do something, I will do it."
On Joelinton: “I’m really happy for him. I see him in training he works hard to score. You have to know strikers have a tough time, hopefully he can add to that against Aston Villa.”