BROKEN SHEFFIELD
Newcastle beat Blades to damage their Euro ambitions
LONDON: Newcastle dented Sheffield United's bid to qualify for the Champions League as Joelinton scored his first Premier League goal since August in a 3-0 victory on Sunday.
Steve Bruce's side made the most after Blades defender John Egan's second half dismissal at empty St James' Park. Allan Saint-Maximin broke the deadlock moments after Egan's second booking. Matt Ritchie doubled Newcastle's lead.
With the visitors in disarray, muchmaligned Brazilian striker Joelinton ended his wretched run with his first goal in the league since he netted the winner at Tottenham on August 25. It was only Joelinton's fourth goal of the season and will offer hope he could still live up to the fanfare that followed his £40 million (US$44 million) move from Hoffenheim last year. Newcastle were playing for the first time since the March suspension of the top flight and the victory moved them 11 points clear of the relegation zone.
It was a welcome boost amid the frustration over Newcastle's still uncertain takeover by a Saudi Arabia-based consortium.
Speaking before the match, Bruce said: "You cannot deny it's been a distraction but we can't use it as an excuse."
For Sheffield United, the defeat was another blow to their European hopes after Wednesday's 0-0 draw at Aston Villa.
Chris Wilder's team remain two points behind fifth placed Manchester United.
As has been customary in every match since the restart on Wednesday, a minute's silence was held for victims of the coronavirus, while both teams took a knee in support of the Black Lives Matter cause.
Ritchie couldn't find a way past Blades keeper Dean Henderson early on when his long-range shot was clawed away from the 23-year-old.
Running onto Miguel Almiron's defence-splitting pass, Joelinton was guilty of a comical miss when he scuffed his woeful shot straight at Henderson before falling flat on his face.