Newcastle United 5 Sheffield United 1 – Match ratings and comments on all NUFC players

We asked ‘Matt Busby said to Joe Harvey’ to give us his match ratings and player comments after Newcastle United 5 Sheffield United 1.

That was some second half performance.

Although absolutely required after a first half which is best forgotten.

Whatever Eddie said at half-time, it spurred Newcastle United into more urgent endeavours after the break.

Player ratings

Dubravka – 6

I appreciate I have more of a downer on our Slovakian shot stopper than most, but I’ve been saying ever since Nick Pope was injured against Man United in early December, that he is the weakest link in the team.

Just like Jean-Philippe Mateta’s second goal at Selhurst Park in the week, Dubravka conceded another one yesterday that went straight through his legs.

Once a decent player in a poor team, Dubravka is now a poor player in a very good team and I’m praying a fit Nick Pope can get back before the end of the season.

Livramento – 7

Steady performance.

Got up the pitch to support Murphy and defended well.

Schar – 5

Not at the races and clearly struggling during what for him was a below par first half.

Burn – 9

I’m giving BDB my MOTM award.

I counted three huge blocks in that torrid opening half, without which we would have been well behind at the interval.

Playing in his more assured position in the heart of the defence, our man from Blyth was superb.

Hall – 7

Young Lewis is looking more and more like a first team regular.

After sitting on the bench for most of the season, it was a real head scratcher as to why Eddie was giving the lad very little game time.

Well, whatever the reason, he’s getting it now and is looking very comfortable.

Like Tino, Hall regularly gets forward and in fact, his first instinct when getting on the ball is to do just that, which is great to see.

Longstaff – 6

It wasn’t a great afternoon for Sean, but maybe not as bad as some would suggest. Let’s not forget the injuries he’s carrying either.

Guimaraes – 9

Everything, and I mean everything, goes through our classy Brazilian and although for me, Dan Burn just knocked Bruno out of the MOTM award, I’m still giving him a nine.

His goal was very well taken and came at a critical time in the match, edging us in front and giving us that platform to knock the Blades into next week.

Guimaraes is surely up there with any of the finest players to have donned the black and white jersey in my lifetime, but we desperately need the return of his fellow Brazilian and our midfield maestro from Milano, otherwise it feels like Bruno is having to carry everyone else in the middle of the park.

Anderson – 6

Like Longstaff, I thought Anderson wasn’t as effective as he could be yesterday, especially in the first half. Sheffield’s midfield exploited that.

Murphy – 7

A sublime assist for the lad from Birtley, allowing Alexander Isak to get us back in terms.

That wasn’t all he did, Murphy working his socks off down the right flank.

Isak – 9

The third player to get a rating of nine, Alex Isak scored two goals, taking his Premier League tally to a massively impressive 19 from just 23 starts.

His first was a sublime finish after a side rule pass from Murphy, whilst for his second, the Swede was calmness personified, waiting patiently through the VAR check to then effortlessly sweep the ball past Wes Foderingham and put the game beyond the Blades.

Gordon – 8

With two ‘assists’, the first a terrific outswinging free-kick for Bruno’s header and the second when he won the penalty (does that count?), as usual, I thought Anthony Gordon had a great game.

SUBS:

Krafth – 7

Replacing the injured Schar at half time, our defence was rarely troubled after Emil came on, possibly a reflection of a number of things; Eddie’s half time pep talk, Schar being injured and Krafth being very dependable when called on to do a job.

Wilson – 7

Callum looked lively and that bodes well for our run in.

Hardly a surprise when he popped up with the fifth, a superb finish after being fed by Harvey Barnes.

Barnes: 7

Harvey doesn’t seem to be firing on all cylinders just yet.

Despite that, with only six starts and a number of cameos off the bench, he’s up to four goals and three assists, the latest one coming yesterday when Callum Wilson’s effort sealed the rout.

Ritchie and Alex Murphy – N/A

Not on the pitch long enough to assess but the chants echoing around the ground about Ritchie’s HGV licence made me laugh.

I’m also so pleased for young Alex that VAR overturned that ludicrous decision to give Sheffield a penalty late on. There was absolutely nothing wrong with the young Irishman’s challenge.

Newcastle United 5 Sheffield United 1 – Saturday 27 April 3pm

Goals:

Newcastle United:

Isak 26 61 pen, Bruno 54, OG 65, Wilson 72

Sheffield United:

Ahmedhodzic 5

(Half-time stats in brackets)

Possession was Sheff Utd 41% (42%) Newcastle 59% (58%)

Total shots were Sheff Utd 14 (10) Newcastle 20 (10)

Shots on target were Sheff Utd 5 (3) Newcastle 7 (2)

Corners were Sheff Utd 5 (4) Newcastle 4 (1)

Referee: Tony Harrington

Newcastle team v Crystal Palace:

Dubravka, Livramento, Schar (Krafth 46), Burn, Hall (A Murphy 82), Longstaff, Bruno, Anderson (Wilson 66), J Murphy (Barnes 66), Gordon (Ritchie 82), Isak

Unused subs:

Karius, Dummett, White, Parkinson

(Match Report – A few more of these please before we hit the beaches in our new Adidas gear – Read HERE)

(I thought I was going to have a heart attack – Chris Wilder on Newcastle United 5 Sheffield United 1 – Read HERE)

(Newcastle United 5 Sheffield United 1 – Instant Newcastle fan / writer reaction – Read HERE)

(Newcastle United 5 Sheffield United 1 – How do you explain this? Read HERE)

Newcastle United matches now confirmed for rest of the season:

Saturday 4 May 2024 – Burnley v Newcastle (3pm)

Saturday 11 May 2024 – Newcastle v Brighton (3pm)

Wednesday 15 May 2024 – Man U v Newcastle (8pm) Sky Sports

Sunday 19 May 2024 – Brentford v Newcastle (4pm)

(The final day of the season live TV matches will be selected closer to the day but all 10 PL games will be same time same day)

Wednesday 22 May 2024 – Tottenham v Newcastle (at MCG – Melbourne Cricket Ground)

Friday 24 May 2024 – A-League All Stars team v Newcastle (at Marvel Stadium, Melbourne)