BLADES PUT OUT OF THEIR MISERY AFTER TOON’S BLITZ

SHEFFIELD UNITED manager Chris Wilder hopes his side can rebuild in the summer and come back stronger after having their relegation back to the Championship confirmed following defeat at Newcastle.

The Blades took a deserved fifth-minute lead through Anel Ahmedhodzic to silence a crowd of 52,196 at St James’ Park as the Magpies turned in a dismal first-half performance, yet still went in level at the break courtesy of Isak’s sweet strike.

They scored four times inside 18 second-half minutes through Bruno Guimaraes, Isak, Ben Osborn’s own goal and substitute Callum Wilson to secure the win.

Wilder said: ‘It (relegation) stings and it hurts. We have to own it. We have got so much work to do on the training ground. We have got to have a proper pre-season.

‘Sheffield United is a really good football club. I think everyone understands that but it’s been a really poor season.

‘I’ve still got another year left of my contract. I’d like to think that the supporters can trust me. I’m enthusiastic and committed along with my coaching staff to get it right. We know exactly what direction we need to go, what the culture is going to look like, what pre-season is going to look like.

‘It’s going to be a tough summer for everybody.’

Eddie Howe’s men fell behind with just five minutes gone when the visitors worked a short corner move for Ahmedhodzic to head Gustavo Hamer’s cross past Martin Dubravka.

They levelled just before the break, however, when Jacob Murphy played the perfect ball into Isak’s run in behind Auston Trusty and the striker finished with aplomb.

But the home side took the lead on 54 minutes when Anthony Gordon curled a free-kick to the far post where the unmarked Guimaraes dived to head home.

Wes Foderingham interrupted Gordon’s surge into the penalty area as he tried to set up Isak, but Dubravka had to palm away Brereton Diaz’s shot after Hamer had broken at pace.

The Magpies extended their lead when Isak coolly converted a 61st-minute penalty after Holgate had bundled Gordon to the ground, and it was 4-1 within four minutes when Ben Osborn back-heeled the ball into his own net as he tried to clear.

Foderingham denied Wilson within five minutes of his arrival but could not prevent him from making it 5-1 with a smart finish after fellow substitute Harvey Barnes had played him in.